An Edinburgh dad has sadly died of lung cancer after losing both legs to vascular disease but it never stopped his love of football or his team Hibernian FC.
Robert Griffin sadly passed away on October 25 in the Western General after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.
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Heartbroken daughter Emma Griffin has paid tribute to her dad and shared some touching memories as well as planning a clap for the Hibs game on Saturday, November 26.
The dad and daughter duo often went to games together and she has described him as one of the "kindest people you will ever meet."
Speaking to Edinburgh Live Emma said: "Hibs was his main passion in life, he went to his first game back in 1968 when he was around 14 years old.
"But around three years ago he got vascular disease due to smoking and had to get a leg amputated in both 2019 and 2020. Then in 2021, he was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. He missed a lot of games during this time and it was hard for him.
"When he had both legs amputated and got a new lease on life and started going to games again. I would go with him whenever I wasn't working."
Emma said: "He was the kindest person ever meet, he was always up for a laugh and loved to get involved with the charities that Hibs supported. He was diagnosed with cancer in April last year. "
Even when Robert was diagnosed with cancer and unwell he still loved to go to games whenever he could. She continued: "He still had a season ticket - he was just unstoppable."
Reflecting on one of Robert's favourite memories Emma said: "On August 13, this was one of the last games my dad attended. Livingston v Hibernian. He was at Livingston North Station and there was a limited service due to strikes, all the staff had gone home it seemed apart from the train driver.
"He wrote on Facebook about his experience when Hibs supporters helped him onto the train with his wheelchair: 'The train was about to leave and with there being no ramp I was going nowhere.
'That's until a bunch of Hibs supporters decided to keep the train doors from closing and the train departing. Two were keeping the doors open while four of them lifted me and my electric wheelchair on the train.
'The combined weight of me and my chair is 182K. That's the equivalent of two fully grown men and ten bags of 2K potatoes. What do you mean who ate all the pies!
"It's not a thing you would advise but it got me on the train. Arrived in Edinburgh and, although it took the staff fifteen minutes to organise, I was safely ramped off the train.'"
His cousin John McSherry also said: "He was a great man and always positive. Very dignified and a mad Hibby. Emmas been very strong and was with him every day."
There will be an organised clap at the 66th minute of the Hibernian FC Middelsburgh game tomorrow at 13.00. Emma and her uncle will be at the match to remember Robert in one of the places he loved most.
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