A letter posted by James Foley's parents, John and Diane, on Facebook, Sunday, makes his potent message come alive. "I really feel I can touch you even in this darkness when I pray," he says.

His memories are endearing yet deeply moving: visiting malls with his father, riding bikes with his mother, playing and adventuring with brothers and friends and reminding his grandmother to take medicines, walk and dance!

The page, called 'Find Foley', was opened in 2012 to create awareness and get freedom for Foley, but now it only contains a powerful letter as well as a huge fan following. His parents post that they have never been prouder of their son, as he "gave his life trying to expose the world to the suffering of the Syrian people."

Last Tuesday a video footage of his beheading by the Islamic State was released.

The 40-year-old freelance journalist, while covering the war in Syria,

was captured in 2012. He was detained with 18 fellow prisoners. One of his friends, 25-year-old Danish photojournalist, Daniel Rye Ottosen, was among those released in Junes, after 13 months in detention.

Foley wanted to send a letter to his parents, but it was seized and destroyed by the jailors. He asked Daniel to convey his message orally, so his friend called Foley's mother, Diane, and recalled the letter that was engraved in his memory.

Touching and powerfully written, the letter recreates Foley's endearingly normal but beautiful life.

He explained how 18 of the prisoners were held together in one cell, which helped them all to pass the time discussing movies, trivia and sports. They played checkers, Chess, and Risk, had competitions and exchanged jokes.