The talented artist died at the age of 32, just months after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.

The talented artist died just months after being diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor. Lázaros Sofikitis was just a few months into his career as an artist when he was diagnosed with glioblastoma at the age of 32.

His mother, Chrysoula Konstantaku, known as Chris, said that when she first went to the doctor, she was prescribed antidepressants for headaches, eye pain and lethargy. He claimed that Lazarus’s brain tumor had been overlooked and wondered how much time they could have spent on him if it had been discovered when he first went to the doctor. He died in November, just eight months after being diagnosed with stage four glioblastoma.

She said: “His life cycle was shorter, but he kept telling me, ‘Mom, this is how it is.’ We will all return to Mother Nature someday. I just have to come back early.

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His family and friends spoke of his great love of nature. Natasha Triantafilidou, whom Lazaros and her sister call their “second mother,” said she was mesmerized by the beauty of her Canadian home village, The Cardiffian reports.

Natasha also revealed that she slept in caves on the outskirts of Crete, where she grew up, during a solo trip when she was 19. She wanted to enjoy the beauty of the landscape in the most authentic way possible.

He then studied forestry at Bangor University. His resting place reflects his commitment to nature and the environment: it is surrounded by trees, meadows and wildflowers at Beacons Park Natural Cemetery in Bannough Brihainiog. Mum Chris, from Cardiff, said: “He always reminded us: ‘We’re not going to pick the flowers, we’re not going to step on the bugs, we don’t need another pair of shoes.’

In the weeks before Lazaros’ death, his loved ones started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for treatments that were not available on the NHS. Part of the money raised is used for his burial, including planting trees in his cemetery. The remainder of the money raised – almost £15,000 – will be split between Brainstrust, Velindre Cancer Center and Marie Curie in his memory.

Lazaros believed strongly in the power of science and wanted the money raised to go towards cancer research if it could not be used to treat cancer. Before he died, he said: “If I could save one person, that would be fantastic.” The GoFundMe target of £17,200 was reached in less than a week. Natasha added: “He was the sunshine of my life. “It filled me with joy.”

Lazaros found a home in the UK’s graffiti capital, Bristol, when he developed symptoms of a brain tumour, and later returned to Cardiff to live with his mother. After his diagnosis, Lázaros continued to practice art. Even when partially blind due to brain surgery,

painted He gave his first post-surgical work of art to his surgeon and it hangs in the Neuro-Oncology Center at the University Hospital of Wales.

Chris, a ceramicist at Fireworks Clay Studios in Cardiff, said: “When young people don’t feel well they should take it seriously and insist on being seen and recorded. [GP] surgery. “If the surgery says, ‘No, everything’s fine,’ and they continue to feel bad, they should push.”

Chris and Lazaros’ sister, Maria Sofikiti, who works at Cardiff Meteorological University, said they cherish memories of their nature walks, including in Cardiff’s parks, and their visits to Cardiff’s National Museum with him. In 2024, they plan to plant a tree in Bute Park in his memory.

The GoFundMe page remains open for donations. Funds raised will go towards a legacy research project created in honor of Lazarus. The Lazaros family also created the Marie Curie Memorial Fund to raise more money for end-of-life care.