THE family of a youth football coach who lost his five month battle with cancer are raising thousands of pounds for Ardgowan Hospice in his memory.

Dad-of-two Keith Jackson, 49, was diagnosed with a tumour in his kidney in April this year — and doctors then found that the cancer had spread.

Only weeks after his death his family have been busy fundraising as a way of saying thanks to the hospice.

Keith’s wife Pauline recently took part in a sponsored walk organised by her work colleagues and his niece ran the Great Scottish Run in tribute to him.

Pauline, 48, of Castle Semple Place in Wemyss Bay, said: “It means so much if we can somehow help other people in his memory.

“It was important to Keith to do that.

“You just can’t put into words how amazing Ardgowan Hospice and the wonderful staff are. 

“Until it happens to you, I don’t think you have any idea what the hospice means.

“Keith always felt relaxed in the hospice, it was a great comfort for him to be here and for us as well.

“As a family we just want to give something back.”

Devoted dad and grandad Keith was diagnosed with cancer seven months ago and it then spread to his lungs.
Pauline said: “It was an aggressive form of cancer.

“They tried trial chemo drugs but it didn’t work.”

Keith, a well known and popular figure in the community, passed away in the hospice on September 7.

Since then the family have gathered thousands of pounds from collections at his funeral and through fundraising.
Devastated Pauline, who was married to Keith for 23 years, son Grant, 22, an apprentice at Ferguson’s, and daughter Victoria, aged 18, an accounts student, have taken great comfort from the support they have received from family, friends and the wider community.

She was particularly touched that her colleagues in the council’s environmental services department wanted to do something to help.

Pauline, an admin worker, said: “We have been so touched by the support from people.

“He meant so much to people that we didn’t even know.

“It really does help.”

She paid tribute to her husband, who was also a devoted grandfather to his two-year-old grandson Harris, Grant’s son.

Pauline told the Telegraph: “Keith had a heart of gold.

“He was a family man and his main priority after he was diagnosed was to make sure that we would be okay in every way.”

Keith helped run Ardgowan Football Development club since it was established 15 years ago to give primary school-aged children in Inverkip and Wemyss Bay the opportunity to play the game.

His niece Kelly Jackson, 27, who lives in Aberdeen and is a trainee teacher, ran the Great Scottish Run for the hospice.
Kelly was joined at Ardgowan recently by Pauline, Grant and Victoria as well as Keith’s two older brothers, Graham and Iain, to hand over £1,500 to the hospice.

Kelly said: “My family all came along to cheer me on at the run and I ran with my uncle’s name on my vest.

“I wanted to do this for my uncle Keith.”