Gordy and Lucy
It is with great sadness that we bring you the news of the passing of our dear friend Gordon, who lost his battle at the end of August 2022. Our thoughts are with Andrea, Lucy and his other family and friends at this difficult time. Gordon was an extraordinary member of our NCC community whose fundraising efforts have made a huge impact on cancer research in Dundee, and we greatly appreciate his passion and dedication to the cause.
In 2012 Gordon was diagnosed with medullary thyroid cancer, Gordon’s particular type of cancer was caused by a genetic abnormality. Following his own treatment, the family learned that their five-year-old daughter Lucy carried the same genetic abnormality and that thyroid removal was advised to minimise the chance of her developing the disease in the future.
Gordon said, “I cannot begin to describe the agony of discovering that I had unknowingly passed this gene onto my ‘wee princess.’ But in true Lucy style, she tackled the operation with a determined smile and thankfully she is now fighting fit.”
Lucy received her treatment at Ninewells Hospital and that is why Gordon and his wife Andrea, along with family and friends have been ongoing supporters of the work of Ninewells Cancer Campaign.
Gordon said “Lucy is our future and that is why we chose to support NCC, we wanted to say thank you to all extraordinary people who have supported us and give something back that will help other people in the local area affected by cancer.”
Since their Fundraising began in 2012, with the help of their friends, family as well as the local community and businesses Gordon, Andrea and Lucy have raised almost £50,000 for NCC.
Their first event was ‘The Long Way Doune: Porsche 911 50th Anniversary Charity UK Tour’. With Lucy in the passenger seat, Gordon drove the 1965 Porsche 911 Project 50 race car from their home in Doune, Perthshire, to Goodwood Racing Circuit in Hampshire, visiting nine of the UK’s finest racing circuits in just three days.
This event alone raised in excess of £14,000 and since then the family’s fundraising has gone from strength to strength, they hold an annual fundraising ceilidh, have participated in the Three Peaks Challenge and not to mention all those they have inspired to get fundraising too.
When the family started fundraising Lucy was only 6 and she said, “when Daddy was made he had a faulty gene and I was given the same one when I was made, so a nice Doctor put dots on my neck which was tickly, and then he took my thyroid out. After my operation I couldn’t talk, but after 5 minutes I had two lunches!”
“Please help us and support NCC if you can, we want to make sure this doesn’t happen to other people.”