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A day of celebration is being held to remember much-loved Middlesbrough postie Anthony Lochrane.
The 40-year-old died last year four years after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.
He was given an initial prognosis of six to 18 months – but after undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the tumour shrank and he fought back to relatively good health, enjoying another two-and-a-half years with his family.
Wife Lisa told Teesside Live last July after his death that her husband, known as Tony, was “the best person to be around with his infectious smile and friendly character”.
Now, Lisa and her family, from Longlands, are hosting a charity football match and family fun day, to raise money for Brain Tumour Research, on Sunday July 21.
Lisa, who also works for the Royal Mail, said: “Tony’s loss devastated not only his family but all those who knew him. He was such a popular guy; he worked for the postal service for 26 years and made many good friends during that time.
“The statistics surrounding research into brain tumours are really shocking and we wanted to do something to raise money to help find a cure for this terrible disease.”
The family fun day is being held at the Dorman’s Club in Linthorpe, Middlesbrough from 11am to 6pm.
Lisa, with the help of her children Lucy, 19, and Charlie, 15, has organised a Boro versus England football match, which will run alongside a family fun day, to include a tombola, bouncy castles, raffle, games and music.
There will also be a celebrity guest appearance from the Liverpudlian actor George Christopher, who played Ziggy Greaves in Grange Hill and Little Jimmy Corkhill in Brookside.
Lisa added: “We’ve had many dark days since Tony died but we want this day to be a real celebration of his life and a nice day for everyone to remember him. Tony was a massive football fan, so it seemed like a fitting way of paying tribute to him.
“You don’t know what it’s like watching someone you love dying from this terrible disease, until you go through it yourself. We just want to do anything we can to support research into brain tumours, and ultimately to help find a cure.”
Brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone at any age. What’s more, they kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer yet, historically, just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease.
Matthew Price, community fundraising manager for Brain Tumour Research in the North East, said: “Our sincere thanks go to Lisa, her family and all their supporters, who are fundraising tirelessly in the wake of their own brain tumour tragedy.”
Kick off for the memorial match is at 12.30pm. Players will be asked to make a £5 donation to take part and there will be a nominal charge of 50p on the door for spectators, with children going free.
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