One of our favorite news stories of last year was the story of Connor Harrison, an 11-year-old British car enthusiast. Connor was terminally ill due to an inoperable brain tumor, and his father was worried that Connor would not live long enough to go to a car gathering, something Connor had wanted to do for quite some time. Instead of giving up, though, Connor’s father posted his story on the car forum ScoobyNet with the idea that he could organize a car gathering of his own in Yorkshire. The story went viral within the car enthusiast community, and thousands of people pledged to attend “Connor’s Day.”

Sadly, Jalopnik is reporting today that Connor passed away just before Christmas. His funeral service was on Christmas Eve.

Connor’s story is a tragedy. He was only 12 years old when he passed away, and it seems unfair that a young boy who loved cars did not live long enough to get the chance to have a first car. At the same time, this was one of our favorite stories of last year because it was a perfect example of the camaraderie in the car enthusiast community. It showed what human beings will do for a total stranger and his family, and we can only hope that 2013 will bring more random acts of kindness in the news cycle.

You can read our original coverage of Connor’s day here and here, and get the latest auto news by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube.

Picture Source: Connor’s Day