DOUBLE TRAGEDY SPARKS CHARITY CHALLENGES
Heartbroken Andy embarks on series of fundraising events in the memory of his late mum and brother
Having lost his mum and brother just months apart, a Sunderland rugby player is embarking on a series of fundraisers.
Andy Turnbull lost his 52-year-old mum Karen following a battle with incurable liver cancer in March last year
Just months later, his brother Dan, who had been diagnosed with leukaemia, died fromcomplicationsfollowinga bonemarrowtransplant–havingnevermethisnewbornson.
Now Andy, 32, has founded Team Turnbull, alongside his partner Maddy Crook and his dad Rob, to raise money for the charities which cared for his loved ones in the final weeks of their lives.
He said: “Everyone misses them both every day. It’s heartbreaking that Dan never got to see his kids grow up.”
In May 2019, Karen, who worked for Hays Travel for 16 years,wasdiagnosedwithliver cancer.
After a series of unsuccessful treatments, doctors broke the heartbreaking news that nothing else could be done.
In a second devastating blow, Dan – who played for Houghton Rugby Club – was admitted to hospital and diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
The 29-year-old, who worked for Nissan, spent
weeks in Sunderland Royal Hospital receiving treatment before being allowed home in time for his wedding.
“[Mum]wasdischargedthe day before my brother’s wedding and on March 7 she saw Dan and his wife Laura married.
At the reception Dan and Laura also announced that they were going to be having a baby boy,” said Andy.
“My mum was very poorly for the wedding and a couple of days later was admitted to StBenedict’sHospicewherewe were told she had only weeks left."
She spent her final week at home and sadly died aged 52 in March 2020.
Devastated,Dancontinued his fight and in May 2020 he was in remission.A bone marrow transplant was successful butduetoothercomplications he became extremely ill.
“Lauragavebirthinthatlast week,onlytwodaysbeforeDan passed away. He never had the opportunity to meet his son,” said Andy.
Team Turnbull was set up to raise money for St Benedict’s Hospice, in Ryhope, and thePhoenixUnitbasedatSunderland hospital.
Donate at www.gofundme. com/f/team-turnbull-eventpage