A DAD-of-five who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer hopes to leave his children a lasting legacy after creating a video blog of his experiences.

Johnnie Meechan, 39, hopes he can inspire others to help set up a foundation which will support families, and in particular children, affected by the disease.

The former postal worker, of Coalgate Avenue, Tranent, has been overwhelmed by the backing he has received from the people in East Lothian.

Family friend Davie Martin helped set up a JustGiving page to help raise funds to help the family during the weeks and months ahead, and when local business figures heard about the Meechans they renovated their garden to allow Johnnie better access.

Matthew Wright from M-Pact Building Services; Pat McCluskey from Hireline; Paddy Frazer from Alba Trees and Kevin Dalgetty and Davie Gallagher from Midlothian Skips all pitched in.

Johnnie said: “It’s been overwhelming the support we have had so far. The garden, like many where we are, is big but it was not even and I couldn’t get out with the children.

“A local businessman stepped in and other companies got involved to transform it. They’re even putting Christmas trees in for the kids.”

Johnnie’s hope is that by posting regular video blogs of his journey as he comes to terms with his latest diagnosis, he and wife Evelyn, with their family’s support, can raise awareness of the condition and hopefully start a foundation which will become a lasting legacy for their children Jamie, 17, Ellie, 15, Josh, 14, Sam, 8 and two-year-old Maia.

He said: “It is about finding a positive among the negatives and making sure I create a lasting legacy for the children.

“If, down the line, we can set up a foundation to help other families, which is an aim we are discussing, then that would be amazing.”

Johnnie was barely 20 years old when he was diagnosed with a tumour in his right knee.

A keen amateur footballer who played for Lochend Boys Club, in Edinburgh, he faced four years of tough chemotherapy and major surgeries which saw a knee replacement but did not alleviate the pain.

He was eventualy offered an amputation which he took and after more treatment his cancer went into remission.

For 16 years Johnnie was living cancer free, meeting Evelyn, who he first knew when they were children, and falling in love.

But last Christmas Johnnie’s world began to crumble. A severe chest infection floored him and he spend the holiday in bed.

Johnnie said: “It is the worst I had felt since my chemotherapy and I honestly thought I was on the way out. I had a fever, I couldn’t breath, I thought the end had come.”

Johnnie was taken into hospital where he was diagnosed with a heart condition, which it has now been confirmed was probably caused by damage during his intial chemotherapy sessions.

But there was worse to come as the scans found something far more ominous, his cancer had returned and it was now in his liver.

Johnnie said: “If I hadn’t had the chest infection we’d probably not have discovered the return of the cancer until much later.

“We took some time to digest the news and decide how we wanted to go forward, then we decided to release the video.”

Johnnie release his first video blog on Facebook on September 25 when he told friends and family, and the world, to new - he has cancer and it is terminal.

And he has gathered thousands of followers since bravely choosing to share his situation.

Johnnie said: “Its difficult and, of course, there are good days and bad, but if I can raise awareness of this disease and help other in this situation then I hope I can.

“When I was first diagnosed with cancer I was barely more than a child myself and I know the impact it has on families. I want to do what I can and make sure I leave something positive for my children and others.”

Johnnie’s Journey can be found at www.facebook.com/johnniemeeksjourney/, the Justgiving page set up by friends is at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/themeechanfamily