A young musician from Sunderland has died, after a year-long battle with an aggressive form of cancer.

Faye Fantarrow, only 21, died at home on Saturday, August 26, her family announced with a post on her Instagram page.

Faye had been bravely battling cancer – for the third time in her life – after being diagnosed with a rare glioma brain tumour in August of 2020. She had previously been treated for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia when she was eight, and again when she was 13.

At the time of her devastating 2022 diagnosis, the promising singer-songwriter had been awarded the Alan Hull award for songwriting and was recently signed to Dave Stewart’s Bay Street Records label.

Read more: Sunderland musician overwhelmed with response after cancer diagnosis

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The cancer had a grim prognosis, but both Faye and those around her fought for her health, raising hundreds of thousands for a medical trial in California.  

Announcing her death, Faye’s family said: “We are beyond grief. We are broken beyond repair. We are cast adrift, beyond despair. We are bereft of a love that outshone the stars, the moon, and the sun.

“There is a gaping void in our lives that can never be filled, our beautiful, compassionate, intelligent, and immensely talented girl has gone.

“Faye fought with a strength and bravery that kept her with those she so desperately loved and who loved her beyond compare.

“Faye was the sun, the light, the life we all gravitated to and wanted to be near, she gave us joy, laughter, and the gift of her music, she was the kindest most generous soul who had so much living left to do. Shine brightly my baby.”

Young musician Faye released her debut EP, called AWOL, earlier this year, and a music video for her song The Weekend, was published only in June.  

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Dave Stewart, Eurythmics singer-songwriter and Faye’s mentor, had been left deeply grieving by the news, saying he was “heartbroken” by the death of the “funny and full of life” young woman.

Kaya Stewart, the daughter of Eurythmics singer and Faye’s mentor Dave Stewart, said: “What a beautiful light. Faye, the impact that you had on my family and I is something I will cherish forever.

“Your music never ceases to inspire and amaze me and will truly live on forever. You will be missed and forever in our hearts. We love you forever and ever Faye.”