A dad who has battled cancer will be spreading some much-needed Valentine’s Day cheer this year as he hands out roses to patients at the Beatson.

Kevin Lalley has marked the date every year since 2018 by standing outside the major cancer centre offering different shaded flowers to women undergoing treatment to bring "colour to people’s lives".

The married father-of-two knows all too well how difficult coping with cancer can be.

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He is currently in recovery for prostate cancer after undergoing surgery to remove it last year – having been diagnosed just a month after a close family member completed a five-year recovery.

The 59-year-old from Baillieston, said: "People are going through the door of the Beatson. They are going through turmoil.

"If one single rose puts a smile on someone’s face they can forget about the cancer for five minutes."

Kevin’s warm-hearted gesture has been very well received with a husband also thanking him for cheering up his wife.

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Staff and volunteers supporting cancer patients and their loved ones also get roses, including those at charity Maggie’s Centre who provided a lifeline of emotional support to him and his family for years. 

Before he underwent his operation in January 2022 at the Queen Elizabeth hospital Kevin was supporting a close family relative with the disease who was diagnosed in 2016.

The family were so excited when she had her last treatment in 2021 but one month later Kevin was also diagnosed with malignant cancer. 

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The former plumber discovered he had the disease after deciding to visit the GP when he felt "discomfort" while carrying out DIY. 

He said: "I went to the doctor, they carried out blood tests and scans were done. They came back with the assessment that it was malignant cancer. 

"I was devastated. This darkness comes on you. You think: ‘my goodness, is there a future?’ It is the cards you are dealt but my faith gets me through it. But I have had an easier journey than many."

After weighing up his options he decided to choose surgery to remove the prostate gland instead of a form of radiotherapy and was admitted to hospital on January 29.

Explaining how each treatment is an individual choice, he said: "I don’t regret having surgery.

"It is whatever works for you. I would never say one is better than the other."

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Although dealing with side effects from his cancer treatment, his recovery saw him campaign to become a councillor for his local area and he was elected months later. 

The tranquil Maggie’s Centre in the grounds of the Gartnavel General Hospital has been a place of respite for Kevin and his family as they endured two gruelling cancer journeys. 

The building surrounded by trees and green plants is full of calm rooms with comfy sofas encircling a garden courtyard.

Offering classes, warm drinks and other help – with psychologists available for support, Kevin described it as a "wonderful, wonderful place" and praised the staff and volunteers for their "great work".

He said: "Maggie’s got me through both cancer journeys with many hankies used."

The idea of gifting roses came to Kevin in the Maggie’s Centre for the first time in 2017 when he decided to thank those who work there with a simple flower. The following year he extended the offering to the West of Scotland Beatson Cancer Centre and has been there every February 14 apart from during the pandemic.  

He is looking forward to continuing the tradition on Tuesday.

He said: "It is about bringing colour to people’s lives."