A grandad who battled cancer has handed out red roses at Glasgow’s Beatson on Valentine’s Day in a bid to bring a smile to patients.
Kevin Lalley, who underwent surgery for prostate cancer in 2022, has been raising awareness about the condition as he encourages men to get checked out.
He has distributed flowers on Valentine’s Day to cheer up people at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre every year since 2018, apart from during the coronavirus pandemic.
Kevin, 60, who is a Glasgow City councillor, said: “It is good to see the delight on people’s faces. I have had partners tell me it is the first smile they have seen on their wives faces for weeks. They are so worried about the cancer diagnosis. I try to take their mind off it for five minutes.”
Kevin supplies the roses himself but this year a resident and business have given money towards the cost as they wanted to contribute as well.
The father-of-two hosted a recent awareness workshop in Garrowhill where there was a presentation from Prostate Scotland and he discussed his experience.
He said: “Checking your prostate needs to be done. I know because it saved my life.”
Before he underwent his operation in January 2022 at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Kevin was supporting a close family relative with the disease who was diagnosed in 2016.
The family were so excited when she had her last treatment in 2021 but one month later Kevin was also diagnosed with malignant cancer.
It was discovered after Kevin went to the GP when he felt discomfort while doing DIY. He opted for surgery to remove the prostate gland instead of a form of radiotherapy.
Charity Maggie’s Centre provided a lifeline of emotional support to Kevin and his family as they coped with the illness.
The idea of gifting roses first came to him in the Maggie’s Centre in 2017 when he decided to thank those who worked there with the floral gesture.
The following year he extended the offering to the West of Scotland Beatson Cancer Centre and is now there every February 14.
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