His close friends, Belle Humphries and Zoe Duke announced his passing on the Nigel’s Bucket List Fundraiser Facebook page early Saturday morning.

“It is with a very heavy heart we say goodbye to our dear mate Nigel. You are the strongest person we will ever meet and your legacy will live on through us all. It takes an exceptional person to face down the battles you had, especially, with a smile on your face,” Belle wrote.

“We can all learn so much from your magnificent zest for life. You will be sorely missed and the world is a lesser place for not having you in it… We know you're on to bigger and brighter things. And remember death is but the next great adventure. We love you man.”

Nigel, at age 18, was diagnosed with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma and after putting his life on hold and taking on chemotherapy and radiation; he beat the cancer on three separate occasions.

However, after suffering from chronic headaches this year Nigel was again diagnosed with a tumour and started the last form of chemotherapy he could. But Nigel was never one to focus on the negatives, and with the help of his friends, in particular Belle Humphries, started to write a bucket list. A Go Fund Me page quickly arose with $2690 donated in just six days and at the top of Nigel’s list was a trip to London.

“But I cannot go due to travel insurance,” he said to the Moree Champion, but within months and after support from the local community, enough was raised for Nigel to take that trip and experience the beauty of London. A trivia night, ‘Bring the World to Nigel’ ball, Avenue for Troy concert at the Post Office Hotel, donations and small fundraisers held by local community groups saw more than $18,000 being raised for Nigel’s trip of a lifetime.

After having to return to Moree early from London due to health reasons,

Nigel told the Moree Champion the trip was “so much more than I expected”.

“I had a blast and couldn’t have had a better time with the friends I went with. 

“I would just like to thank the community for their ongoing support and donations that enabled me to travel to London,” he said.

Just days before his passing the community helped him tick another venture on his bucket list, as he let 200 Bulldogs coloured balloons go into the sky.

Nigel will always be remembered for his bubbly personality and being able to look on the bright side about everything, including cancer.

“I've got some pretty bad news to share. I've recently had some scans done and the results are bad to say the least. The tumour is eating at my brain stem its looking pretty horrible. The doctors have said I've got a few weeks or maybe a couple of months to live. I believe I've got longer than that though! I've got months and years left in me. I know it, you know it. I'm a fighter. I'll try my best to get through it! With God by my side anything is possible. Prayers are definitely taken from anyone and everyone,” he wrote days before his passing.

Along with, his own description of the question everyone asked him “how are you doing?”

“I love how people ask how I'm doing and I tell them I'm doing fine and they ask "Are you really?"

“Yes. I am and always have been a happy dude. If you know me you know I live and strive to make others laugh and make them happy.

“Nothing's gonna change that. I'm gonna die happy and with a smile on my face. I get angrier when food isn't up to my standard than anything else. Yeah, I feel cheated by life sometimes but what's the point of drowning in the sorrows of it. No cancer’s gonna bring me down.

“I feel I have the best friends and family in the world. What could I not be happy about?” he said.

Family, friends and even complete strangers took to Facebook after hearing of his passing. Tanya Bowd wrote how Nigel was an “amazing, inspirational, young man. 

“I have enjoyed following your story and seeing you live your dreams fulfilling your bucket list. You have certainly created some very precious memories you have fought hard to be strong for so long. You should hold your head up high for you make so many people proud just to knowing your story makes me feel blessed. Never mind how much you have inspired your loved ones! Bless you.”

Sekaihli Smith wrote about the large turnout to a memorial for Nigel, held in Ipswich. “Please know that he touched and helped so many people in life. He truly was an amazing soul and you (his mother Diana McIntosh) should be absolutely proud of the young man he was. No one will ever forget him, nor let him become a memory. He will forever live on in the life lessons we learnt from him.” 

Diana shared her deepest thanks with his Facebook friends. “Thank you all very much for your love for Nigel McIntosh... He would've been so honoured.”

Nigel's funeral service will be held at 11am tomorrow at the Moree Memorial Hall, followed by a graveside service at the Moree cemetery. There will be a wake after the service at the Calvary Christian Centre (Pastor Greg’s church).