THEY worked all their lives to save for a happy retirement together.

But Sheila Young is spending her later years alone after losing her beloved husband Billy to cancer.

Now the 67-year-old is determined to use her experience to help other people who have the illness.

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Sheila said: “Billy was just working towards retirement, working towards enjoying what we had been saving for all our working lives. That wasn’t to be.

“But the staff at the Beatson were amazing with us. I really can’t speak highly enough of them. Billy got the best of attention, he really did.

“One day an advert about the Beatson Cancer Charity appeared on my Facebook page and I thought I could help.”

Billy was 60 when he was diagnosed in 2006 with a brain tumour that had spread from his lungs.

A Yarrows shipyard worker, Billy had always been healthy and fit so the diagnosis came as a terrible shock to the couple.

The pair met in the Picador on Renfield in 1973 when Sheila was 25 and they married towards the end of 1974.

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Billy proposed at a Halloween party - but an unimpressed Sheila had him do it again, just to be sure.

His diagnosis came after a sudden seizure outside the couples’ Bearsden home.

Sheila said: “Billy had gone out to move my car while I made tea. I remember looking out of the window to see what he was doing as he had been away a long time.

“I could see his head bobbing up and down and I thought, ‘He must be listening to music’. Then I realised there was something wrong and I ran out.

“I remember running out screaming. Our neighbour, who is a nurse, came out too and got an ambulance.”

Doctors initially couldn’t find the source of the problem and sent Billy home.

But he still felt unwell and so returned to his GP a few days later. The GP referred him back to hospital and further tests discovered his cancer.

Sheila added: “The diagnosis was a real shock. A friend’s brother was diagnosed with lung cancer at the same time, had surgery and he’s still with us. You just don’t know.

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“But I would always say to people now, especially men - go to your doctor as soon as possible. It might save your life.”

Billy was treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the Beatson.

He and Sheila had a further 18 months together, which she says they made the absolute most of.

Towards the end of his life, Sheila spent much of her time in the Beatson with her husband, with the support of medical staff.

Billy passed away on St Andrew’s Day, just a few weeks shy of his 62nd birthday.

Sheila, a receptionist, said: “I used to complain that Scotland didn’t do enough to celebrate St Andrew’s Day but now I really don’t want it to be celebrated.

“Billy was always very protective of me. We were a very close couple; when you don’t have children you build a life around each other.

“But I had 34 years with Billy and no one can take that away from me.”

Sheila, who also volunteers for the Cat Protection League, is now passionate about giving back to the Beatson Cancer Charity to say thank you.

She has previously fundraised but will work in a new cafe, which is planned to open in June.

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Work is currently underway on the new venue, which is funded by the Beatson Cancer Charity and will be volunteer run.

The Beatson sees 8000 new patients each year and bosses say a cup of tea in a warm environment can make all the difference to patients and their families enduring anxious waits.

The charity is also revamping the radiotherapy waiting area which sits next to the café area to make it more comfortable, welcoming and calming.

Volunteers are needed to sign up before June to be ready when the cafe opens.

To be a café volunteer with Beatson Cancer Charity, call 0141 212 0505 or email volunteer@beatsoncancercharity.org

Sheila added: “At first I wasn’t sure I wanted to be as front line as that because people would want to talk about their experiences and I wasn’t sure I could cope with that.

“But the things is, everyone knows someone who has been at the Beatson or who has had cancer.

“Everyone who comes up to be served has been touched by this illness and you can empathise with them to some degree.

“Now I’m really looking forward to being on the front line. I look at these people and they are on the same journey as I was on and if I can help these people then that’s good.

“I hope to be the person there to put a smile on their face.

“If you can give someone a smile, what a difference that can make - and I’m speaking from experience.”