As The Northern Echo launches its “We’re Backing The Butterwick” campaign, Peter Barron talks to a father-of-two whose story underlines the importance of the charity

THEY were just four words, but their impact on Andy Tingle was devastating: “Sorry, there’s no hope,” said the hospital consultant.

The father-of-two had been called to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough and had a sense that it was urgent, but it was the worst possible news.

Once Andy, 48, had comforted his wife Cheryl, he asked: “How long?” The answer was that he might have three to six months to live.

Up to now, he has defied medical logic, surviving for 15 months, thanks to the loving support his family, and the care he has received from the NHS and the Butterwick Hospice.

“It depends on long my body can cope with the treatment, but I live from day to day,” he says.

Andy, originally from Billingham but now living in Stockton, had everything to look forward to. A devoted wife, two beautiful children in Callum, nine, and Chloe, three, and a good job, working as an operations director for pub company Simple Leisure Ltd.

But around 2013, he started to feel unwell and was backwards and forwards to the doctors, initially being treated for diabetes and suspected gall-stones.

Then, in 2016, came the shattering diagnosis of stage four kidney cancer and he was fast-tracked within two weeks for a 10-hour operation to remove a kidney and his adrenal gland. Andy went through a year-long recovery period and was about to go back to work when the call came through from the hospital in April 2017.

The cancer had spread to his sternum and lung and the oncologist broke the news that it was terminal.

Naturally, there have been very dark times for Andy and his family since then. But today he symbolises everything the Butterwick stands for and has become a passionate supporter of the charity.

Despite being on the highest grade of chemotherapy tablets, his body has so far shown remarkable resistance to common side-effects. And, while his health lasts, he is devoting his strength to promoting the value of the hospice.

“Team Tingle” has so far raised £31,500 for the Butterwick, Cancer Research UK, and Macmillan Cancer Support, with nine-year-old Callum being honoured as the Pride of Britain’s North-East Young Fundraiser of the Year.

“Callum is the heart that beats inside of me,” says Andy, glowing with understandable pride. “Everyone morning, at seven o’clock he wakes me up, gives me my tablets and tells me I’m taking him to school. He inspires me to get out of bed and to go on beating this for as long as possible.”

Callum, a pupil at Fairfield Primary School, makes necklaces and bracelets to sell, and the father and son double-act has become invaluable to the Butterwick.

As well as organising events for the Butterwick, Andy is also working with GPs to advise them on how to break bad news to patients.

“My dad died here so I’ve always had an affinity for the place and now I’m being treated here myself,” says Andy. “We just want to give something back in return for everything they’ve done to support us as a family.”

That support includes Andy being a day-patient every Thursday, when he receives treatments such as aromatherapy, massage, or relaxation therapy. The staff have become his friends and he describes clinical sister Kath Murphy as “like a sister”.

Meanwhile, Callum is a regular at the Child Support Group on Wednesdays and there are frequent counselling sessions for all the family.

Asked about the fraud, involving former Butterwick chief executive, Graham Leggatt-Chidgey, he shakes his head and says: “He’s one man and today’s news is tomorrow’s fish and chip paper. We have to draw a line and move forward.”

Andy still doesn’t know the answer to the question “How long?” There are times when the chemotherapy leaves him feeling “like I’ve been through ten rounds with Mike Tyson”.

But, in between, he looks remarkably well and has the energy to enjoy his family. There are still football kickabouts in the garden and karate sparring matches with Callum, but the Butterwick is always there when needed.

“It’s such a welcoming, friendly place and we feel comfortable here as a family,” says Andy. “And when the time comes, this is where I want to pass away.”

No one knows when that will be, but Andy is making the most of the time he has left, and, in Callum, Chloe and Cheryl, he has Team Tingle to support him every step of the way.

“I’m not scared of dying – I’m scared of what I’ll leave behind, but we will always be grateful to the Butterwick,” he says.