TV cancer dad loses his brave fight
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THE widow of an "incredible" young father has paid tribute to him after he lost his fight against leukaemia.
Michael Murphy was just 25 when he died last week after battling the disease since 2016, but is set to feature in this year’s Stand Up To Cancer campaign on Channel 4 having been filmed for the national fundraiser earlier.
His widow Shannon (22) revealed the extent of his courageous fight following his diagnosis just two months after they wed in 2016.
She said even when he was at his most unwell, the former factory worker and McDonald’s crew member who lived in Forres before moving to Inverness, was determined to be positive, particularly for their 20-month-old daughter Sophia.
Speaking ahead of his funeral, which took place on Tuesday, she said: "He was such a kind and caring person, he would do anything for me and Sophia.
"He always made sure we were all right and had everything we needed.
"He was always thinking of other people, even in that situation, which shows how selfless he was.
"He had a heart of gold and he was someone who would do anything for anybody.
"Even throughout all his cancer treatment and everything that was going on he just got on with it. He never complained.
"He would get tired but he never made a big deal out of it, even when he was feeling really sick.
"I am very proud of how brave he was. Half the time you wouldn’t even have thought he was ill with the way he carried on as normal.
"I was always telling him to slow down a bit, but he would always just tell me to carry on."
It was while receiving treatment at Raigmore Hospital that Mr Murphy took part in filming for the Stand Up to Cancer fundraising campaign which is organised by Cancer Research UK and has run on Channel 4 since 2012.
Aiming to accelerate progress in life-saving research, the wide-ranging campaign will feature across a series of programmes next month.
As well as showing her husband’s bravery, Mrs Murphy hopes the footage captured will also provide Sophia with lifelong memories of her father.
"Channel 4 were doing a bit of filming with us and that was great," she said.
"Sophia was just getting to the stage where she was getting to know her dad.
"It’s got all of us in it and she will have that as a way to remember him.
"We have got videos of him as well. We have been able to create some great memories for her."
Lisa Adams, Stand Up To Cancer’s spokeswoman in Scotland, also paid tribute to Mr Murphy saying the campaign was "incredibly sad" to hear of his death.
"Michael was an inspirational young dad whose courage shone through," she said. "We were proud to work with him as he shared his story ahead of this year’s Stand Up To Cancer campaign.
"We stand up to cancer for Michael and our thoughts are with Shannon, Sophia and all his family at this time. We would like to thank them for their support."
Throughout his time in hospital Mr Murphy was also a popular figure with staff at Raigmore.
A spokesman for NHS Highland said: "Michael was well known and liked within the department.
"We were very sad to hear that he had passed and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time."
Mrs Murphy now wants her husband to be remembered for everything he did for his family.
"I want him to be remembered as the kind and caring person he was," she said.
"Even though he was ill and everything, he was always the happiest person ever.
"He was a real family man and a great dad."
