A 46-YEAR-OLD father-of-one has thanked people for their support during his battle with lung cancer.

Andy Shaw, from Haslingden, was diagnosed in March after previously suffering from what was thought to be muscle injuries for around eight months.

His sister Nicola Bezer set up the Andy’s Angels fundraising group which raised money to help her brother and his family ‘create memories’.

Mr Shaw is currently undergoing treatment and frequent hospital visits and his tumours are currently static.

More than £10,000 was raised in total which has helped the couple renew their wedding vows and take a trip to Benidorm.

Mr Shaw said: “Things have been going pretty well considering.

“You can either let it it get you down or you’ve just got to crack on.

“I’m determined to carry on going.

“It does make you appreciate things more in a way.

“I’ve been overwhelmed by the gestures of people in the Valley, it’s been mindblowing.

“The generosity of people has been amazing, it’s been brilliant.”

One of the main fundraising events was a family fun day at St Mary’s Chambers in Rossendale which featured an auction of donated items.

One of the prizes was a seat in an executive box at Old Trafford to watch Manchester United play Burnley on Boxing Day.

The winner, however, donated the prize back to Mr Shaw, which he said was ‘a great thing for him to do’.

Mr Shaw’s wife Sally runs Relish caterers in Helmshore Road, and the couple have a 13-year-old son, Harry.

He used to work in his ‘dream job’ as the garage cafe manager at Tor View Community Special School.

Mr Shaw is also the manager of Rossendale Valley Lions under-13 football team and is a big golf fan, which has been a source of encouragement for him.

He said: “Back in February I set a target to be playing golf by the end of the year and I managed seven holes last month.

“I have to play with a ride-on buggy, but it gets me out, it’s a great achievement for me.

“The lads at the football team keep me going, it gives me something to look forward to and get out to.

“We’re just going to keep on going into the new year and take things how they come.”

Volunteers also help Mr Shaw renovate his garden earlier this year.

Sister Nicola, 49, who organised the fundraising, said she has been blown away by the support the family has received.

She said: “I cannot believe what people have done, they have been so generous.

“It was difficult and it was hard for us at first, we wanted to save for treatment but that was just out of our league.

“Sometimes he feels like he is on death row, he’s just waiting for the medication to stop, he’s doing well overall though.

“We don’t know how long he’ll have left, so we just want to create as many memories as possible, especially with Harry.”