Brave Phil lives out wish-list adventures

FAMILY and friends have rallied round a loved-one with terminal cancer to help him fulfil a wish list of adventures.

Phil Delaney was diagnosed with Grade 4 aggressive prostate cancer in July last year — but has been determined to live life to the full.

Relatives and pals encouraged the brave Shaw man to write down things he’s always dreamed of doing and then set about fundraising to help him achieve his goals.

Phil and wife Tina Delaney enjoyed a fabulous holiday at Moon Palace in Cancun, Mexico, where they renewed their wedding vows.

And the 53-year-old treasured a trip to Cheltenham Races to watch the Gold Cup and then a helicopter ride.

The couple, who have been married for seven years, have greatly appreciated the support the Oldham branch of Prostate Cancer Support Group has given them and were determined to help the charity too — handing over £486 of the money raised in a recent cheque presentation.

Five relatives and five friends were sponsored to take part in the Blackpool half-marathon to raise the money for Phil and the charity — with friend Ian McBride finishing in an impressive seventh place.

Mrs Delaney said: “It was a complete shock when Phil was diagnosed. He’s always worked as an industrial roofer and he never sat down and was always active. He started getting aches and pains in his shoulder and back and we put it down to his age and wear and tear.

“But then he started struggling going to the toilet and we thought it was an infection so we booked an appointment at the doctors where he had tests and was diagnosed.

“It’s terminal and he’s got a lot of secondary cancer in his bones.

“He’s on treatment at the moment but he’s responded really well.

“He’s holding his own and it’s absolutely amazing how he’s dealt with it. He’s an inspiration and he’s taken it on the chin.

“My family decided he should do a wish-list and raised some funds for him to do it. We also decided to donate some money to the cancer group to help others.”

Adventurous Phil has been delighted with his achievements so far and is still working his way through the wish list, planning a hot air balloon ride and other thrill seeking activities.

Mrs Delaney added: “He’s been brilliant.

He’s been overwhelmed with people doing things for him like the half-marathon.

“He doesn’t let anything get him down.

“He’s very upbeat and pro-active. He’s my hero.

“We would like to raise more funds for the cancer group because they have been absolutely amazing for us, especially for me to help me deal with things. The doctors and the hospital have also been brilliant.

“We want to help make people aware of prostrate cancer. Before the diagnosis we did not know anything about it. There’s that many men that don’t realise they have got it. They go to the doctors with something else and it comes up.

“Breast cancer gets a lot of coverage and is a worthy cause but prostate cancer is quite common but it’s not getting the same publicity.”