A COURAGEOUS football fan led the charge against cancer at the weekend - a year after being diagnosed with the disease.

Ian Anderson, 57, was chosen to sound the horn to send more than 1,100 fundraisers on their way at the start of Cancer Research UK’s Shine Night Walk on Saturday night.

When the Newton Mearns resident stepped onto the stage at the weekend it had been one year since he found out he had cancer, but after surgery and  months of treatment, he was given the all clear in May. 

Ian is now back where he belongs on the pitch playing in goals every Tuesday night as part of the Partick Thistle Football Fans in training legends team. 

He said: "I’m proud to support Shine to help raise awareness.

“I’m so lucky to have a wonderful wife, family and very close friends who made everything so much easier.

“They kept my spirits up. My two-year-old grandson John who lives just around the corner kept me smiling if ever I wasn’t having such a good day. One look at his face made everything seem okay again.”

Glasgow city centre lit up on Saturday night with fairy lights and neon as Shine participants set off from the Scottish Event Campus at 9pm.

The 10km route, which transformed the city streets in to a fun and inspirational parade of light crossed over Bell’s Bridge, passing BBC Scotland and STV headquarters. Participants then walked back over the River Clyde, along the Broomielaw, up to George Square and past Glasgow Cathedral.

The route also passed Cancer Research UK flagship shop on Queen Street before heading back to the River Clyde and the finish line.

It is thought that the event helped raise more than £52,000 for life-saving research, with people of all ages completing the overnight race at their own pace. 

Cancer Research UK’s Lisa Adams said: “We’re so pleased to bring Cancer Research UK’s Shine Night Walk to Glasgow again.

“We’d like to thank our VIP starter Ian and everyone who came along to make this event in Glasgow so special.  It was a wonderful opportunity for people to come together to remember loved ones lost to cancer or celebrate the lives of those dear to them who have survived cancer.

“Sadly, most of us know someone whose life has been touched by cancer but the battle against cancer never stops. Our aim is that one day everyone will beat cancer. The more research we can fun, the sooner that day will come."