Bucket list target for cancer pal hit in hours
FRIENDS of a man with terminal cancer have set up a fundraising drive so he can enjoy his final months - and they smashed their target in less than 12 hours.
Pals of Andrew Lupton, 33, from Cheadle set up the page when they found out he had been given months to live by consultants at The Christie, despite getting the all clear in February after battling leukemia.
His friends set up a fundraising page to help Andrew fulfil his dreams and raised £4,000 in just 12 hours.
Life-long friend Emma Mander, 32, said: “When we found out that Andrew had been given this diagnosis we were all so shocked and devastated that we just felt we had to do something.
“There was a list of things that us, as his close friends, knew he wanted to do. He wanted to go to Portugal with close friends, he wants to treat his family, he loves Manchester United so we’re trying to sort out something with them.”
Insurance salesman Andrew had undergone a successful bone marrow transplant in January and aggressive radiotherapy appeared to have defeated the disease. So much so, that in February Andrew was given the all clear.
But earlier this month Andrew’s consultant told him that the cancer had returned and the cells had started to multiply and there was nothing further they could do.
Calling his friends ‘soppy’ for setting up the page, said: “I honestly don’t know what I’ve done to deserve this kindness from my friends and members of the public who don’t even know me. There are honestly no words I can find to express my gratitude. I’m just so humbled by everyone’s kindness.
“It’s just proved to me that humans do have the ability to love unconditionally.”
Recalling the hearbreaking moment he was given the news Andrew said: “After I got the all clear in February I couldn’t celebrate properly because I was still recovering from the radiotherapy and the transplant, but over the last few weeks I was contemplating joining the gym. I go back for a check up every Tuesday so I thought last Tuesday would just be like any other.
“I wasn’t expecting the news I received. Every time I’d been before the news was always positive.
“It’s only just sunk in. The hardest thing for me is seeing my mum, dad and my sister so upset.”
Friends have already organised a limousine to take all of Andrew’s friends to Bellini’s in Cheadle for his 34th birthday on Saturday and a Hummer to take his family to Jamie’s Italian in Manchester on Sunday.
To donate to Andrew’s JustGiving page visit crowdfunding.justgiving.com/ claire-olivia?utm_ id=106&utm_ term=RdE6Jvd8D.