Oldham's community turned out in force in memory of a 23-year-old man who was an inspiration in death as he was in life.
Dental Nurse Naveed Maqsood died just six days after being diagnosed with cancer.
But such was the impact he made on the people who knew him that a memorial charity cricket match held during a weekend looks to become an annual event.
Naveed's wife Jamilla, aged 32 said her husband had more friends than she knew people.
She said: "In 25-years of funeral prayers at the Ross Street Mosque in Coppice, I have been told that they have never seen so many people there.
Jamilla and Naveed were married in 1997 and Naveed came over from Pakistan the following year.
The couple originally lived in London where Jamilla was studying to be a barrister and moved back to Oldham in 1999 when they were expecting their first son Abdullah.
Naveed immediately threw himself into local life, playing for two cricket teams and coaching local youngsters in the sport.
He later studied hard and went onto become a dental nurse and had only qualified in January this year.
But just when life looked to be on the up for the couple Naveed was taken ill.
He was diagnosed with cancer on 6 June and died six days later.
Said Jamilla: "The remarkable thing was that he accepted his illness with grace.
"He never lost his sense or humour and he never complained. At 23-years of age he never once asked: 'Why me'?
"He was truly an inspirational person."
She added: "The hardest thing has been for Abdullah. He tells everyone that the people in heaven have dirty teeth and that his dad has to be there to clean them"
During the memorial weekend funds were raised and all proceeds will be split between Christie's Against Cancer and the Moorside Cricket Club under 17s fund, a team that Naveed coached.