Mehigan revealed his father Michael, 79, passed away in the UK after an intense battle with the disease.“I’m trying to look after mum now but he ignored the early signs, not that it would have made a difference because it was fairly aggressive,’’ Mehigan said.“I’m 54, it’s a big change in our lives. As you get to that age you lose people around you or know people who have lost people around them.“He lived a good life. He was very healthy for most of his life.“I sorely miss the man he was in my life. The guy I always went to for advice and talked to about cars and boxing.“Most of the time I’m fine, but I get caught up in a wave of emotion.”Mehigan last visited the UK for Christmas in 2019 and hopes to return as soon as possible.“He went through four rounds of chemo and radiotherapy and it was brutal,’’ Mehigan said.“It’s an awful thing, the disease is one thing but it just ravaged his body.“We had a long time to get our heads around it and he was such a strong and proud man, he didn’t want to go into palliative care.“For someone who was fit and healthy it was hard. We remind ourselves that he was a wonderful dad and when he passed away it was peacefully. Small cell lung cancer can be very painful and uncomfortable so for that we are thankful.”Mehigan opened up as he helps promote the Cancer Council’s Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea.He and fellow chef Darren Purchese, of Burch and Purchese, are ambassadors with participants able to register to host at any time throughout May or June.Funds raised support Cancer Council’s lifesaving cancer research, prevention programs and support services for people affected by cancer.“I’ve been involved with Cancer Council Victoria for a long time now and the message they want to get out there particularly is it’s time to get together and raise money for a good cause,’’ Mehigan said. “It’s a timely reminder that a lot of cases are possibly going undiagnosed through lockdown and through people’s habits.”biggestmorningtea.com.au
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