AN outpouring of love after the death of a Fife man known for his sense of humour and caring personality is helping his family to carry out some of his lifelong wishes.

Connor Burns passed away "suddenly but very peacefully" and surrounded by his loved ones at Victoria Hospital on Tuesday, April 11.

The 24-year-old's mum, Pauline Gear, says her son won't be remembered with sadness, but with an appreciation of the joy he brought to everyone around him.

She has been left "astounded" after more than £2,000 was raised in memory of Connor for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) in just two days.

The money will allow Pauline, 45, to fulfil her son's desire to help the parents and children who rely on the charity and their services.

She said: "Although Connor never had to use CHAS he knew it was for terminally ill children who were going to pass away.

"He said if he could help their mums and dads and (help) them have a better end then that's all that needed to be done.

"He was just so considerate, considering everything wrong with him."

Pauline described how Connor would regularly buy flowers for his team of home carers, and how he always put the needs of others before his own.

She added: "There's not many people like that in the world anymore, he had a love for making sure everybody else was OK.

"Connor was always thinking about other people, he wasn't selfish, he would always put other people's feelings first.

"He was a unique individual, I think we would call him."

The former Cardenden Primary and Lochgelly High School pupil was able to purchase his own home in Duloch in Dunfermline in 2021, after an eight-and-a-half year long struggle for answers over alleged medical negligence at the time of his birth which left him with quadriplegic cerebral palsy, a bend in his neck, and a bend in his spine.

A settlement meant that he was able to buy a house for him and his mum, alongside his brothers, Kieran Burns, 20, and Callum Burns, 15, as well as his step-father, Simon McArthur, 54.

Connor worked with contractors to create his own wing at the property, giving him a sense of independence Pauline could only have ever dreamed of for her son.

That included a large pond, with a walkway modified by Simon to be suitable for Connor's wheelchair, where he would regularly sit with his carers – who became like family to him – and listen to music.

"We used to call Connor the man of many mothers because he certainly was," Pauline continued.

"He lapped up every minute of it, he used to laugh if he'd done the toilet and they had to change him, he found that highly amusing.

"He would find the things you shouldn't find funny hilarious.

"He is going to be missed because he just had such an impact on everybody."

Despite being aware of Connor's popularity, Pauline says she has had her "breath taken away" by the support she has received since his passing.

"There's just that much love for him and I think it's that he impacted a lot of people's lives," she said.

"Connor's outlook on life was yes, he was broken, but he had to get on with it and if he could smile every day then so could the rest of us.

"Folk are coming out with memories they have of him running them over with his wheelchair and stuff like that."

During his time living in Dunfermline, Connor struck up a friendship with 'Duloch Spiderman' Dave Roper, who will be taking a photo of him to the Mount Everest base camp during his expedition there later this year.

"Connor couldn't travel with his condition and I thought where better to put a photo of him than up Mount Everest," Pauline said.

"He's going to take him to base camp and he can sit there and watch the world."

She went on to explain how Connor's sense of humour will play a large part in his funeral, not only because of the song he chose himself to play during the cremation.

While it was originally his mum's idea to have Elvis' Burning Love play during her own send-off, Connor was determined to use the song himself, in the hope that the first two lines, "Lord Almighty, Feel my temperature rising", would raise the mood.

Pauline laughed: "He beat me to it, he said he was having it and that he would steal it off me after I passed away!

"He was adamant I would go first and he would live to 100.

"He had a brilliant sense of humour and the banter that used to come out of him was just endless."

The funeral service will take place at Kirkcaldy Crematorium at 12.45pm on Friday, April 28.

Confirming arrangement details, John Gilfillan Funeral Directors, stated: "Beloved and cherished son of Pauline and Kevin, loving brother to Kieran and Callum, a dearly loved grandson, much loved nephew, cousin, and dear friend to many; Connor was a delightful, colourful young man who lived life to the full and will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him."

All relatives and friends are invited, though the family have requested that donations be made to CHAS through a collection box in lieu of flowers.

You can also donate to the fundraiser, which is to remain active in the coming weeks, here: https://gofund.me/bdb96794