The son of a charity campaigner who died earlier this year has made his father’s dream of leaving a £10,000 charity legacy come true – despite suffering a second tragedy.
John McGann, 35, of Clayton , went ahead with a charity golf day and evening of entertainment, including an auction, at Clayton Golf Club on Saturday, just days after the death of his mother.
The event was a huge success, raising £4,000, to smash through his late father’s £10,000 fundraising target.
John said: “It was fantastic. It pulled on a few heart strings with people knowing about my mum’s death as well. I could not have asked for more from them.”
John’s dad, Michael McGann, was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in July 2011. The progressive disease weakens and wastes the muscles, resulting in loss of mobility, difficulties with speech, swallowing and ultimately breathing.
Despite the grim prognosis, Mr McGann put all his efforts into raising awareness of the devastating and fatal condition and money to help find a cure.
His well-supported efforts, including a fundraising night at Clayton Golf Club, raised thousands of pounds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Unfortunately, Mr McGann, of Broom Croft, Clayton, a former organiser of Clayton Dickensian Market, died at home on May 3, aged 70, before he could reach his £10,000 target.
John decided to complete the task, but before he could achieve it on Saturday, he also lost his mother Jean, who died peacefully on August 21 in Bradford Royal Infirmary , aged 60. She had been fighting cancer.
John, with the help of friends Chris Foster and Andy Palmer, organised the charity golf day, with 70 golfers taking part.
Around 200 people attended the evening event, with Natasha Crow taking more than £500 through the sale of raffle tickets and an auction raising £1,500.
The golf club gave the venue for free and local and national businesses supported the event.
John added: “At one point the whole course was under water and we thought it would be cancelled, but club captain Dave Smith allowed us to play on because of what it was for. It was hectic, but well worth it.”
All the money will go to the Motor Neurone Association.
l Requiem Mass for Jean McGann takes place on Friday at the Church of St Anthony of Padua, Clayton, at 1.30pm, followed by cremation at Scholemoor.
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