A Fife family will lead the charge against cancer on Father’s Day in memory of their father.
Kinghorn’s Ali and Libby Gavin were heartbroken when dad John died from skin cancer.
They have been chosen to ring the bell and send more than 1,000 Scots on the Race for Life courses at Beveridge Park in Kirkcaldy on June 16 to raise funds for Cancer Research UK.
They will be supported by their mother Liz who helps at the charity’s Kirkcaldy shop.
They will also be cheered on by John’s daughter Jenny and his grandchildren Connor and Millie.
Popular sports coach John, 59, was a founder member of Kirkcaldy United and well known for his commitment to encouraging youngsters to take up football.
Ali said: “We all miss dad so much.
“He inspired youngsters of all ages into football – footballer Lewis Stevenson who plays for Hibs started as a kid being coached by my dad and playing for Kirkcaldy United.”
John was first diagnosed with melanoma at the start of 2008 after noticing that a mole on his chest had changed.
He had surgery but late in 2013 was given the devastating news the cancer had spread.
He was accepted on a clinical trial of a new drug and for the next 21 months tests showed that John’s tumours had stabilised.
The cancer had started to grow again by 2015 and John started an immunotherapy drug and underwent more surgery.
In May 2017, he threw an early 60th birthday party in a joint celebration with Libby who was celebrating her 21st birthday that spring.
She said: “Sharing my birthday with dad that year was the best.
“For that birthday party, he rewrote the words to the Amy Winehouse song, Valerie so it all applied to me and the band we’d hired for the party sang that new version at the party. I’ll always remember that.”
Sport helped keep John’s spirits up during periods when he was feeling well enough.
He joined Kirkcaldy Walking Football Club and took up wheelchair tennis. He died in September 2017.
Jenny said: “Dad was someone very special, full of fun, laughter and funny voices.”
Every day, 88 people are diagnosed with cancer in Scotland.
Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is a series of 5k, 10k, Pretty Muddy and Pretty Muddy Kids events which raise millions of pounds every year to fund crucial research.
Lisa Adams, Cancer Research UK’s spokeswoman in Scotland, said: “We are grateful to Alistair, Libby, Liz, Jenny and all the family for everything they are doing in John’s memory to support the charity.”
To enter visit www.raceforlife.org or call 0300 1230770.
