HIS family have been there for him through thick and thin ...

and now Brian McLaughlin's children are supporting him through his most difficult challenge.

Brian was diagnosed three months ago with terminal lung cancer, having never had a sick day in his life.

Now he is receiving chemotherapy treatment at the Beatson and the family have pledged to raise cash to support the charity.

Brian said: "I was ­diagnosed at the Royal Alexandra Hospital and transferred straight to the Beatson where I couldn't ­believe the speed and standard of care.

"One moment I was referred and the next moment I had a needle in my arm and a team of medics who could not do enough to help me.

"I cannot say enough about the Beatson.

"It is an amazing place and everyone is so nice - from the ­reception staff the ­moment you walk in, to the medical staff."

Brian, from Paisley, decided if he could do something to help give back to the Beatson then he should.

So the 70-year-old decided to take part in the Off the Beatson Track fundraising walk.

And his tight-knit family pledged to ­support him along the six-and-a-half mile route... all 38 of them.Brian and wife Eileen, also 70, have 10 children and 19 grand- children who will all be there on Saturday for the charity event.

So far they have raised more than £5500 with more to come.

Brian will walk with his 10 children: Geraldine, 48; Eileen, 47; Mary Gerrard, 46; Frances, 44; Brian, 43; Anthony, 42; Stephen, 40; Felicity, 37; Clare, 35; and Nick, 32; along with 19 grandchildren.

And Eileen, who is unable to walk the full route, will be there to welcome the gang of 50 - including friends - over the finish line.

Having never been ill before, the cancer diagnosis was a huge shock to Brian and his family.

Despite the diagnosis three months ago, Brian, a regional manager for Co-operative Funeralcare, only gave up work last week.

He had been having chemotherapy and then driving 400 miles to his job in Luton.

But Eileen has ­finally convinced him to rest and now Brian is concentrating on his treatment.

Brian said: "I have never before had a Monday morning where I've had to wake up and think, 'what will I do today?'

"Slowing down is as much a shock to the system as anything else. But I don't want to be idle and I do want to fight this. The diagnosis may be terminal but that doesn't mean I am going to give up.

"They can throw ­anything at me, give me any experimental drugs that they want to - I will take any treatment the Beatson wants to give me because I plan to be here for as long as possible."

Brian and Eileen reach their golden wedding anniversary next year - and Brian is determined still to be here to celebrate it.

He said: "I have been told that I am not to miss our golden ­wedding anniversary - and I wouldn't dare disobey. After 50 years of marriage and 10 children you learn to ­listen to what you're told."

catriona.stewart@ eveningtimes.co.uk