Updated on Oct 6th 2012 at 8:49 AM from the JustGiving API

I've put an insane target on here, I have no idea if we could ever reach it, but I figured, if we shoot for the moon, we might find Andy among the stars! :) Mel x

Hi,

We can't actually believe that we're setting this page up because we never thought in a million years that we would be saying a final goodbye to Andrew this soon. We are so very deeply and profoundly heartbroken at losing him and we, (Julie (Girlfriend & Wife to be), Dave (Dad), Margaret (Mum), Jamie (Twin Brother) & Mel (Sister)) decided to try and lighten things by doing something good in his memory by setting up this page.

Andy's funeral will be held on 16 October 2012 at 12:00. It will be at New Southgate Crematorium, Brunswick Park Road, Southgate, London, N11 1JJ, but we will congregate outside Julie's home (3 Benfleet Way, London, N11 1LN) and walk behind the hurse to the cemetary (it's about a 5 minute walk). Then, afterwards, please feel free to join us at Andy's favourite pub to raise a glass at The Alexandra Pub, 133 East Barnett Road, EN4 8RF.

A lot of people will have decided to wear Wolves shirts, so if you have one, please feel free to join in. It'll make Andy laugh as he looks down on us all, especially if allegiances are challenged!

We've decided not to be specific about what you should do. So, here are the options: if you want to send flowers to the funeral, then please feel free to do so, they will need to be sent to the funeral directors before 10:00 on the day of the funeral. The address is The Cooperative Funeralcare, 16 Ashfield Parade, Southgate, London, N14 5EJ.

However, if you would prefer to make a donation to charity, this is where we would like it to go. The other option is to just come along and join us in order to celebrate Andy's life, because that would mean just as much to us.

I suppose the final option is that you've come across this page for whatever reason and feel compelled to leave a donation, just because... then we would love you to.

We've all been so overwhelmed by the genuine and heartfelt messages of love, support and kindness that has been generated by Andy's passing... what a brilliant legacy he's left in his wake, and we truely are bursting with pride because of that and for so many more reasons.

Our chosen charity is the Beacon Centre for the Blind because it's where Jamie lives and if it wasn't for that place he would not be living independently, due to his visual impairment. It's a charity that has a direct impact on Andy's family and it will also be where some of Andy's ashes will finally be buried. Jamie wants to plant a cherry tree somewhere in the grounds which he says he'll look after.

Andy's official cause of death was ischaemic heart disease, which was cited as a direct result of heavy smoking. The coroner told us that there was severe damage to his heart which had been building for years and therefore, a heart attack was just waiting to happen. One thing to be incredibly grateful for, which we've found huge comfort in, is that Andy wouldn't have known anything about it. His death would have been instantaneous and painless. It would have been very unlikely that anyone would have been able to do anything for him even if there was an opportunity. If he could have been revived, we've been told that there would have been significant brain damage... that's absolutely not how Andy would have wanted to live... his world was about living and having fun.

It feels really harsh to write about the specific detail surrounding Andy's death, however, when we got the news and digested it, we decided to put it out there because if it makes even one person try and stop smoking, it will mean that Andy's death won't have been in vein... so please let us know of any stories, as it will mean a lot to us.

Thank you so much for being part of Andy's world, he was, without doubt, happy... and each and everyone of you who stepped into his world made that happiness possible, and for that, we will be forever grateful.

With genuine appreciation... from us as Andy's family...

xxx

If you have any other questions or just want to get in touch, please feel free to contact me on Facebook, or my number is 07429 178132, or my email address is mstaunton@btopenworld.com... Thanks for reading, Mel... x