Crooner Craig gets in swing for cancer fight

Singer draws inspiration from pal Heather for fundraising Sinatra and Dean Martin hits

A Perthshire man will swing and sing around Glasgow after being inspired by a friend who is fighting cancer for the second time.

Craig McLellan, 31, who lives near Aberfeldy, will have to rush between venues for the challenge on October 26.

He is tuning up to wow the crowds with a selection of swing hits in honour of his friend Heather Duff, 32, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour in May.

Heather, who lives near Edinburgh with her husband Gordon, has been chosen as the face of Stand Up To Cancer in Scotland, having been diagnosed with cervical cancer, aged 27, in 2014, and then a brain tumour in May.

The sobering statistic that four people are diagnosed with cancer in Scotland every hour is driving them to support Stand Up To Cancer, the annual joint fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4.

And Craig will be among them, singing Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin standards.

He said: “Heather is one of the most positive, passionate and determined people I have the pleasure of calling a friend. She is an inspiration to me.”

Cancer has been prominent in Craig’s life for the last 18 months as his father, aunt, cousins and friends have all been hit by the disease.

While his day job is as manager for Cancer Research UK in Scotland, Craig used to perform swing music in a tribute act.

Heather thought she had beaten the disease and had started a new job as a fundraising manager for Cancer Research UK.

But in the early hours of May 16 she woke to find three paramedics in her bedroom and her husband Gordon by her side.

The couple were taken to St John’s Hospital in Livingston where a CT scan revealed Heather had suffered a seizure triggered by a lesion on her brain.

More tests led to a diagnosis of a 4cm brain tumour.

She had surgery at the Western General in Edinburgh at the start of last month to remove it.

But now tests have revealed another tumour so she faces surgery again this December.

She has reached out to other people with cancer by recording her blog, www. fucancer.co.uk

She said: “I’ve had the most wonderful support from family and friends since being diagnosed this time and I’m really touched that Craig is planning this brilliant fundraiser.”

Craig kicks off his Taking a Swing at Cancer challenge at Denholms bar at 7pm. He will then take part in a whistlestop tour, singing at pubs including The Oriental Bar, Grant Arms, The Iron House, Ross’s bar and The Bayhorse, before finishing at The Horse Shoe bar on Drury Street.

Heather is one of the most positive, passionate and determined people I have the pleasure of calling a friend. CRAIG MCLELLAN

Craig McLellan aims to sing his way to an impressive fundraising total in support of Heather Duff.