EVERYONE remembers their struggles the day snowstorms brought Central Scotland to a standstill in December 2010.

The McCrone family was taking their terminally-ill brother Boab from his home in Govan to the Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice on the banks of the River Clyde.

"They were nearly four hours stuck on the Squinty Bridge with the traffic," said Boab's younger sister, Katie McCrone.

"My younger brother said if he could have carried him to get him there quicker then he would have because Boab was in agony in the back of the car."

They eventually got to the hospice and Boab was given the pain relief that brought back his larger-than-life personality for the first time since being diagnosed with lung cancer in August 2010.

But he lost his fight for life five days later, just a few weeks short of his 52nd birthday.

Now the family are marking the significance of that route again by taking part for a third consecutive year in this Saturday's Midnight Walk.

The McCrones have raised more than £8000 in memory of Boab, who was the second-eldest of seven children and a much-loved uncle to 15 nieces and nephews.

More than 20 members of the family are donning Where's Wally costumes to complete the route along the banks of the River Clyde.

Last year they wore all-in-one overalls emblazoned with 'Boab's Apprentices', as a reminder of the odd painting and decorating jobs he carried out for friends and family.

And in 2011 they wore a rainbow of tutus and leg-warmers to signify the logo of the hospice where he was treated.

"We keep laughing because the Where's Wally colours are red, white and blue, and Boab was the biggest Celtic fan you'll ever come across," added Katie.

"And I've got a funny feeling it's going to rain. I think he'll be looking down on us asking: 'What the heck are you all doing?'

"We had five days of coming to the hospice every day and seeing our brother pain-free for the first time since he was diagnosed.

"If we can give that to another family, even just for five days, then we will."

A cleaner at Lourdes Secondary School in Cardonald, Boab began complaining of back pain in June 2010, which he put down to a cold.

When his aches didn't ease, doctors said they thought it was a pulled muscle, then perhaps kidney stones, but a locum doctor noticed his weight loss and he was sent for a scan.

Niece Lindsey McCrone was called into the doctor's office to be with Boab when he was told there was a shadow on his lung.

Lindsey, 28, mum to three-year-old daughter Brooke, said: "It was a shock. It was just so quick. We just all loved him to bits. He didn't have any kids of his own but he brought all of us up.

"Brooke can vaguely remember Boab, and if you ask her she'll say he's up in the sky."

He received months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but the cancer had spread into his chest cavity.

One of the hospice's Laurieston Clinical Nurses, who treated Boab at his home, recommended that he be moved to the in-patient ward of the hospice as his condition had worsened, which also happened to be the day of the heavy snowfall that closed a 20-mile stretch of the M8 for 48 hours.

Boab spent five days at the hospice on Carlton Place receiving symptom control and pain relief.

HE was transferred to the Western Infirmary on December 12 after losing feeling in one arm. He passed away the same day from a blood clot.

Boab, who never married, lived with his parents, John and Margaret, in Govan and cared for his father, John, who suffered from vascular dementia.

The death of John eight months ago, on his 79th birthday, compounded the family's grief.

In addition to the Midnight Walk, they have also organised charity football matches and home-baking sales.

All members of the McCrone family will meet up this Saturday evening to take part in a family ritual.

"Boab loved a drink and he was always singing," said Katie. "That's Amore, by Dean Martin, was his song and that's now our party piece at any family gatherings.

"Everyone in the family goes into a circle and we'll sing that song word for word. I think Boab would be proud of us."

The family will then make their way to the Riverside Museum to start the walk at midnight.

The pre-walk entertainment, hosted by Clyde 1 DJ Romeo. includes live music, warm-up exercises, street theatre from Mischief La-Bas and a piper at the start line.

More than 500 participants are expected to walk a 5km or 10km route along the Clydeside, crossing some of the river's iconic bridges.

Boab's younger brother Pat, 46, added: "The people you meet make the walk – you split into groups and get talking to other people.

"You realise everyone is in the same boat."

Registration for the walk costs £20 per person.

Proceeds and sponsorship from the fourth annual walk, which last year raised £50,000, will help the hospice care for more than 1000 patients and their families every year.

To sign up, call 0141 429 5599 or email midnight walk@ppwh.org.uk

The Evening Times is backing the Brick by Brick appeal to raise £15million to build a new hospice on a site by Bellahouston Park.

l To donate to the Boab McCrone Tribute Fund, visit www.ppwh.org.uk/ boabmccrone