HE became known as "the guy with breast cancer". But, in his hometown of Galashiels, he was the Braw Lad they never had.

Andy Darling died, aged 42, on Monday following a seven year battle with the disease. However, his legacy lives on.

The nightclub boss, who ran Bond's Bar in Galashiels and Angus O'Malley's in Selkirk, dedicated the final years of his life to raising awareness of breast cancer, which is often thought of as a condition that only affects women.

He ignored a lump in his chest for more than two years before he was diagnosed with the disease.

But, his selfless charity work, including a catwalk to raise money for Breast Cancer Care in Glasgow last year, has made other men more aware of the symptoms - and saved lives.

*Pay your respects and share your memories of Andy in our online book of condolences here: http://tinyurl.com/ra7fw8* Paying tribute to Andy this week, close pal Richie Gray said: "He was a larger than life character who made everyone smile.

"Andy loved Gala. It didn't matter where you went in the town everybody knew him. He was a real patriot and loved walking over Gala Hill and looking down on the town. He just enjoyed life and got a real buzz out of seeing people enjoying themselves.

"He had a massive network of friends and acquaintances that crossed just about every divide, partly because he opened possibly one of the most successful clubs the town has ever seen, and packed 80 years of living into 42.

"In recent years he has become a huge role model for male breast cancer and made it his mission to spread the word about the disease when others might have shied away, and even if it just makes one other guy check themselves for lumps then its been worthwhile." He added: "We always hear of people who fought their illness bravely but sometimes it is so understated it is embarrassing. He's fought it for a number of years but he's always remained positive. Even when he was ill, he was still talking about tomorrow." The former Gala rugby club coach revealed the nightclub boss was the life and soul of the party. He recalled a night when he met Andy - who spent his free time playing basketball, rugby and squash - in Bond's after his side won the BT Cup final at Murrayfield in 1999. He said: "We were all invited upstairs and they must have laid on 50 to 60 bottles of bubbly for us - by the end of the night the ceiling was dripping with champagne - life was just a party." Despite enduring years of gruelling chemotherapy treatment, Andy was also involved in organising the Big Day Out - a two day festival in Galashiels to celebrate the town's Gala Day - which attracted big name bands including the Proclaimers and Saw Doctors to the Borders. He also organised infamous trips to Dublin to coincide with the international rugby matches between Scotland and Ireland.

His family paid tribute to him this week. His brother David Darling said: "It's difficult to sum him up in words." But he added: "He did think he would get through it. All the time he did believe he would find a cure." A service to celebrate the life of Andrew Darling will be held at the Trinity Parish Church (opposite Iceland) in Galashiels on Friday at 10.15am. All friends are respectfully invited.

However, his family have requested that no dark clothes be worn to reflect his colourful character.

Breast Cancer Care Scotland Fundraising Manager Colin Graham said: "We are saddened to hear that Andy Darling has passed away. We came to know Andy well as he was one of the 20 models who took part in last year's Breast Cancer Care Scotland Fashion Show.

"Andy's positivity and willingness to raise awareness of the disease by sharing his experience of breast cancer was an inspiration to us." And he added: "Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time." Andy Darling is pictured at his home in Gala Park, Galashiels, before joining 19 other models at Glasgow's Radisson SAS Hotel for a charity catwalk in aid of Breast Cancer Care in September last year. He was one of only two men to volunteer for the show. Speaking before going on stage, he said: "I'm petrified but I want to show men they are at risk. I ignored my lump for years. I'd love to ensure others don't do the same." Pay your respects and share your memories of Andy in our online book of condolences here: http://tinyurl.com/ra7fw8