OBITUARY: JASON BOAS NO SURRENDER.(Obituary)

Music industry accountant and charity fundraiser loses battle with cancer

Jason Boas 1974-2008

Late in the evening of November 11, the music industry lost one of its much-loved characters, accountant Jason Boas, who at just 34 lost his valiant 13-month struggle against cancer. "He leaves behind an incredible legacy of charity and unselfishness, which we can all take inspiration from," wrote Universal's Alex Myers, paying tribute to his best friend of over 15 years.

As a partner at Harris & Trotter, Jason worked with clients such as Mark Knopfler, Bryan Ferry, Tom Jones, KT Tunstall, Maximo Park and Depeche Mode, who considered him "fantastic to have around in our world. His enthusiasm and humour were present even to the end. We will miss him dearly."

"He was an exceptionally good guy and he loved the music business, everyone he met could only say good things about him," praised Ronnie Harris, senior partner at the firm.

In October last year, he was initially diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer, a disease rarely found in someone so young. After experimental chemotherapy, Jason dramatically beat the odds and in April, after an 11-hour operation to remove his tumour, the worst appeared to be over. The respite was not to last, however, and cruelly, just three months later, the cancer returned, this time to his liver.

Jason had always been a devoted fundraiser, having run marathons in New York and twice in London, so when news broke of his diagnosis and he started receiving get-well messages from far and wide, Jason instinctively turned his thoughts away from himself and towards others. Directing well-wishers to a fundraising website, he swiftly collected close to #40,000 for the Royal Marsden Hospital, where he was receiving his treatment and over the course of his illness would go on to raise an astonishing #150,000.