Four friends from Preston cycled the breadth of Britain to raise £3,030 for LTHC (Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity) in tribute to one of the quartet’s dads, who passed away last September after contracting Legionnaire’s Disease on a family holiday to Spain.
Former president of Lea Bowling Club Andrew McCann, who was just days away from celebrating his 64th birthday, was taken ill on the Thursday after returning from holiday the previous weekend.
Andrew had had to pull over while driving to the bowling club to cut the grass. As he stopped, a police car drew beside him as another motorist had reported Andrew, who was 18 months into his retirement after a 34-year career at BAE Systems Samlesbury, for driving erratically.
Widower Andrew was taken to the police station before being blue lighted to the Royal Preston Hospital and admitted on to the Critical Care Unit, where doctors diagnosed him and put him into an induced coma.
Sadly, Andrew, who had an underlying heart condition, never came round, passing away with sons Stuart and Dave and daughter Sarah at his bedside in the early hours of the following Tuesday.
Younger son Dave (32), a contracts manager for a construction company and organiser of the 177 miles, three-day bike ride from Scarbrough to Blackpool, said: “The one-to-one care unit staff gave dad, who had been struggling to breathe when he pulled over, was just immense.
“Staff did everything to make him as comfortable as possible. The doctors were very honest with us from the start but assured us they wouldn’t give up on trying to make dad better unless dad’s body gave up. We lost our mum Jean five years ago to cancer and we believe dad did want to go and be with her.”
Dave continued: “We knew dad had a heart condition, but he hadn’t let on how serious it was. He’d also dismissed his Legionnaire’s Disease symptoms as a cold.”
“I was living with dad at the time, who was helping me renovate a house I’d bought. Dad was very handy. He was always doing things to help others. His final act of going to cut the grass was an example of him putting others before himself. We all agreed that the staff on the Critical Care Unit worked their 12-hour shifts similarly. It was as if their job was their vocation. They did everything they could for dad, which is why I organised the cycle. The funds raised for LTHC are for the unit.”
On the cycle, Dave was joined by Jack, Sam and Joe, friends since high school. Despite being novice long distance cyclists and having to battle extreme heat, they all pedaled to Tadcaster on day one. En route, Jack suffered a nasty fall which that evening, took him to hospital in York where he was diagnosed with a fractured elbow.
Dave, Sam and Joe rode on to Sowerby Bridge on day two before reuniting with Jack on day three. Dave said: “We’d like to thank all our friends and families for their fantastic support with special mention to Sam’s dad Charles, who was our back-up crew, meeting us along the way with lots of food and drinks.
“It was my birthday on the ride. Thank you to my partner Aimee and everyone who tuned out for the mini celebration we had at The Continental when we reached Preston. That’s where we met up again with Jack. We also off-loaded all our luggage to make the final few miles to Blackpool a bit easier. We finished in front of the tower with banners to welcome us. It was great and we’re very grateful.”
LTHC fundraiser Lucy Clark said: “Huge thanks to Dave, Jack, Sam and Joe and everyone who supported them for this fantastic donation, which is for Critical Care Unit staff to tell us how they want it spent to best help patients.
“Dave speaks so beautifully about his dad. Andrew sounds such a lovely man, who tried his best to help others throughout his life and through the cycle, his legacy goes on. You can’t get a better tribute than that.”