Friends of a Lochaber strongman who has cancer, yesterday took part in a special fundraising event to raise money for his family.
Father-of-three Mark Haldenby has Hodgkin’s lymphoma and is going into the Beatson Hospital in Glasgow this week to undergo a stem cell transplant operation.
But the 40-year-old, who lives in Caol, Fort William, was determined to attend The Haldenby Strongman Classic at Caol Community Centre.
The free event was organised by other local strongmen to raise money to help Mr Haldenby, his wife Caroline, and their children, Ebony, 13, Jorja, 10, and five-year-old Priya, through this difficult period.
The main focus was a strongman contest, featuring 16 athletes from Lochaber and elsewhere in Scotland, but there were also stalls, music, an auction, a raffle, children’s entertainment and refreshments.
Mr Haldenby said: “This is really hard for me as I’m one who likes to do things for others and not have things done for me.
“I’m so touched – the whole family is touched – that the lads have organised this event.”
He added that he found it easier to accept because it had been agreed that the would continue in future years to support others in the community.
Mr Haldenby was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which is a malignancy in the lymphatic system, two years ago and is going into hospital for the transplant operation on Thursday.
He said: “I’ve had all the standard treatment they can give me.
“I’m really hopeful this will be the last treatment I need and it will cure me.”
But he said he was well aware that he would face a “huge battle” afterwards and it might not work.
Fort William strongman Stuart Whyte who has organised the event, said: “It’s a tough time for them and I don’t want them to have to worry about things like Christmas.
“Everything we raise on the day will go to the family as a gesture of support from Mark’s strongman friends and the wider community.”