A SENIOR councillor from Greenock has told of his grief over the tragic loss of his son to a brain tumour at the age of just 38.

Robert Moran has revealed his pain about the death of his son Ross, a dad-of-two who'd worked in the Inverclyde Centre for the homeless.

He lost his battle with the incurable tumour at the start of the year, having spent his last days being cared for in Ardgowan Hospice.

Now Robert, together with Ross's mum Marjory and his niece Laura, are leading their close knit family and friends on the Kiltwalk in aid of the charity.

Ross's devastated family want to celebrate his life as well as say thank-you to the staff who cared for him.

Greenock Telegraph:

Former provost Robert, 70, said: "The staff in the hospice, every single one of them, are really special people.

"Ross's last days were so peaceful and what we would have wanted.

"They couldn't do enough for me and his mum.

"They helped every step of the way and they are still helping us now. The support didn't just stop when Ross died. We have felt great comfort in going to the support groups, talking to other people, we all have.

"The hospice are there for you before, during and after, so we want to give back in whatever way we can."

Ross, a devoted dad to Olivia, 12, and Daley, seven, passed away on January 9 this year, two years after doctors first found the frontal astrocytoma, a malignant brain tumour, that needed to be operated on.

He was rushed in for emergency surgery but doctors couldn't remove all of the tumour, with gruelling rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy the only options left.

His family including his mum and dad and his older brother Robert, 42, plus his close circle of friends, all rallied round to support him.

Despite responding well to treatment at first, the 38-year-old's condition rapidly deteriorated in November last year and he lost his fight for life on January 9.

Greenock Telegraph: In memory of Ross Moran In memory of Ross Moran (Image: George Munro)

Robert, who battled bowel cancer 13 years ago, said: "It all just seems so unfair.

"Ross first started to get symptoms during lockdown and it just kept getting worse. We all know it was impossible to get to see a doctor.

"One day he phoned me and he was involuntarily shaking uncontrollably.

"We ended up at Inverclyde Royal and they sent him straight for tests and it turned out it was a tumour. We were all devastated.

"Throughout it all Ross only cared about other people. Even on the day he was told about the brain tumour, he was more worried about other people at the Beatson.

"He was heartbroken about a 14-year-old girl and what she was going through.

"But that was Ross all over, he was so compassionate. That is why he was brilliant at his job. Ross was a homemaker in the homeless centre. He loved helping people try to rebuild their lives.

"He really understood what the people in there were going through. He was a boy from Larkfield and they could identify with him. He used to say to us, 'that could be any of us in there'.

Former shipyard worker Robert, who has served for the last 20 years, added: "It is important to us as a family that we help as many people as we can.

"Ross had a great circle of friends who all looked after him. He loved his golf and he loved going to his football. It was hard when he had to stop working, as he loved his job."

Robert's niece Laura Hughes, 36, said: "We are an incredibly close family and in January it was just terrible and we had no idea how we would ever get through it.

"We all needed something to help us keep going. I am the organiser in the family and I thought let's do something positive. I did the Kiltwalk with my friend last year, so 40 of us family and friends are all going to Glasgow together to take part in it this year.

"Ross's mum Marjory is incredibly strong and has kept us all together. We are all going to miss him so much. I can't believe I will never see him again."

Marjory, 64, said: "Ross will be remembered as a gentleman, that is what everyone says about him. He was just lovely.

"He was the best dad in the world. He was devoted to Olivia and Daley, they are doing brilliant and keep us all going."

Just weeks after Ross passed away his brother Robert and partner Nicole welcomed their baby Robyn Rosa, who was given the name in memory of her uncle.

Robert said: "It is tinged by sadness that Ross never got to meet his baby niece."

Ross's family and friends will take part in the Kiltwalk in Glasgow on Sunday April 28, with some tackling the 14 mile big stroll while others including the youngest members of the family will do the three mile walk.

All the family will be wearing a photograph of the former St Columba's High pupil during the event.

The family have set up an online sponsorship page and pledges can be made by visiting https://shorturl.at/hmouD