Hundreds of people have attended a memorial celebration for Nelson teenager Alex Renton, who died after months in hospital with a mystery illness.
Permission was given for Mr Renton to be treated with medicinal cannabis, but he died two weeks later.
Nineteen balloons were released today in his honour – one to represent each year of his short life.
More than 200 people attended the celebration of Mr Renton's life, where a haka by his rugby team was also performed.
His mother, Rose Renton, said she wanted to remember the time she had with her son.
"I want to remember the 19 beautiful years of Alex; I don't want to mourn the ones he didn't have."
The theme of the day was green to represent the medicinal cannabis his family had campaigned for permission to treat him with.
Mr Renton died on July 1 after three months in Wellington hospital, where he suffered numerous mysterious seizures.
His sister, Jessie Renton, said she always knew her brother would change the world.
"Even from a coma, you sparked national debate and conversations about medicinal cannabis. You never cease to amaze me with what it possible.
"You left us all with a legacy we can continue fighting for in honour of you," she said.
Their mother and twin brothers planted an Alexander rose at the gardens, along with some of Mr Renton's ashes.
His father believes if he had received the cannabis earlier it would have made a difference.
"It's a father's worst nightmare to lose one of his children before you go, and it has to be the worst thing that's happened to me in my life."
His family are seeking a law change so that others can access medicinal cannabis legally.
His mother says Mr Renton would have been proud of today.
"It was magical, like Alex. The weather was magical, he's magical and now he's set free."
The rest of his ashes will be scattered at a rugby field in Golden Bay.
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