Tributes to fan who inspired Reds players’ ice bucket challenge
TRIBUTES have been paid to a brave cancer patient who touched the hearts of Manchester United legends before he lost his fight for life, aged 35.
James McCarthy, from Urmston, was found to have a large undiagnosed brain tumour after having an epileptic fit at the wheel moments before a car crash in 2009.
He underwent major operations, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and was given eight months to live in 2014. But he defied the doctors and lived for another four years, ticking off many of his ‘bucket list’ ambitions.
The Reds fan hit the headlines in 2014 when a number of his Old Trafford heroes heard about his plight and ended up doing the ‘ice bucket challenge’ in his name.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville were among those who did the challenge, dousing themselves in ice-cold water, to raise cash and awareness of his condition.
He managed to realise many of his ‘bucket-list’ ambitions, including vising Thailand and Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland, and DJing at Cafe Mambo in Ibiza.
But his health deteriorated this year and he spent the last eight weeks at St Ann’s Hospice in Salford. He died there on Thursday night. He was 35.
On Twitter, Justin Mottershead wrote: “Sad to hear about the death of James McCarthy, massive United fan who raised thousands for a great cause (& even gave me an excuse to tip a bucket of ice over my Mrs’s head)”
Lisa Green said: “So sad. Proper top lad with a heart of gold.”
James had to learn to walk, talk, read and write again after his surgery.
He was determined to leave a legacy and set up a charitable foundation in his name to help others in a similar position. When the MEN reported on his foundation in 2015, he said : “I want this to be my legacy. When the likes of Gary, Scholesy and Ronaldo did the bucket challenge for me I couldn’t believe it. Then I got to meet Sir Alex Ferguson – these are people I’d worshipped for years.
“I’ve got great family and friends but to have so many people rooting for me was just completely overwhelming. I wanted other people to experience that and have that level of support.”