JOE Murphy was once a fit and healthy bar manager and a staple member of staff at some of Manchester's best-known nightspots, including Sankeys and Warehouse Project.
But that changed when, aged just 50, he was admitted to hospital and given the devastating news that he had life-threatening cancer.
In May 2015, Joe became unwell and was admitted to hospital with pneumonia. It was discovered that Joe was suffering from chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow.
After a stem cell match couldn't be found for a bone marrow transplant, Joe started treatment at The Christie cancer treatment centre in south Manchester but then was hit with another horrific blow as his body became resistant to the drugs doctors had used to force his cancer into remission.
With a collapsing immune system, he developed sepsis and meningitis and was in and out of hospital before doctors discovered cancer in his spinal fluid. Joe was told he would likely die.
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