The daughter of Celtic and St Mirren great Frank McGarvey has raised £25k for a cancer charity in a bid to satisfy her father’s final wish.
The daughter of Celtic and St Mirren star Frank McGarvey has raised £25,000 for Pancreatic Cancer Action Scotland in an effort to grant her father’s final request.
Jenny Kane collaborated with the charity and has been raising awareness about the condition since the 66-year-old died on New Year’s Day last year. McGarvey, who scored 109 goals in 245 games for the Hoops, began having severe pain in 2022, prompting him to consult physicians on a regular basis, who were first unable to determine the cause.
He had chest pains, loss of appetite, and weight loss, and was given painkillers and indigestion medication until a CT scan revealed the lethal malignancy.
Jenny earlier told the Daily Record, “Dad went to the doctors five or six times in spring 2022 and was misdiagnosed.” As a former football player, he had a high pain tolerance, but he was in misery. The physicians gave him painkillers and indigestion medication, which didn’t help.
“It seemed like no one was looking at the broader picture or tracking how much weight he was shedding. I’d never heard of pancreatic cancer, but I sensed something wasn’t right.
Six weeks following his diagnosis, the physicians began discussing therapy options with Dad. “Pancreatic cancer feels like the underappreciated cancer. My father died in pain. “No one should have to go through that suffering.”
Pancreatic cancer is the most fatal of all common malignancies, with a five-year survival rate of fewer than 8%. More than 900 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year in Scotland alone, and 26 people die from it every day in the United Kingdom. Early diagnosis increases survival rates, yet symptoms are frequently overlooked, delaying critical treatment.
Jenny, two years after Frank’s participation in raising awareness at Glasgow Central Station, has brought the fight to beat the disease to Parkhead and successfully raised a significant sum for World Pancreatic Cancer Day thanks to the incredible efforts of Frank’s family, friends, and the larger community.
Jenny gave an example: “When my father was diagnosed, he told me, ‘Jenny, we need to tell people about this.'” That is why our family has teamed together with Pancreatic Cancer Action to ensure that others do not miss the warning signs as we did. We are working on earlier diagnosis so that no one else misses out on a future with their loved ones.
McGarvey’s son, Sean, added: “The £25,000 raised in memory of my father is such a comfort to our family at this time. The work of Pancreatic Cancer Action is inspiring, and it reminds me of my father’s final request to help others suffering from this terrible disease. Thank you so much to the charity and everyone who participated in the fundraising.”
Joe Kirwin, Chief Executive Officer of Pancreatic Cancer Action, stated: “We offer our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has contributed to this tremendous initiative. Your donation celebrates Frank’s legacy while also supporting our aim to increase early detection and raise awareness about pancreatic cancer.”
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