HE DID everything he could to make the ordeal of watching him fight cancer as easy to bear for his family as possible.

Today, kidney cancer drug campaigner Andy Crabb made his final journey as his father paid tribute to the son who had shown “amazing courage and determination”.

About 525 people joined Mr Crabb’s wife Dianne and parents Dick and Sue for the funeral at Abingdon’s St Helen’s Church of the man who fought to get kidney cancer drug Sunitinib prescribed on the NHS.

In November, the father-of-three from Crosslands Drive was told his third appeal to be given the drug on the NHS had been successful.

Mr Crabb, 50, who died on Saturday, October 3, was among 25 kidney cancer sufferers initially denied funding for the drug by Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust after it was deemed too expensive. Health bosses approved the drug for prescription in February.

Mr Crabb was a keen footballer who once played for Abingdon United and his coffin was draped in the Cross of St George and red and white roses as Nessun Dorma was played.

His father, from Radley, described him as a “loving, kind, thoughtful and considerate” son, who was a “brilliant dad” to Daniel, Tracey and Barry, and a “caring brother” to Nicola and Simon.

He was also a grandfather of 10. His most recent grandson, Jack, was born on the day Mr Crabb died.

Addressing his son, Mr Crabb said: “We were told many times how amazing you were by the doctors.

“You tried very hard to make this journey easy for all of us. You would say ‘I will be fine, I will be okay’. Your courage and determination was amazing.”

Mr Crabb recalled how his son became a keen footballer at Fitzharrys School, in Abingdon, and also loved fishing and darts.

Childhood friend Kevin Jeacock told the congregation that Mr Crabb was still match fishing in July, and he last saw him on a fishing trip about two weeks ago.

The Rev Pam McKellen said: “Andy and Dianne had nearly 30 years together and it got better and better as time went on.

“Two years ago, the diagnosis of Andy’s cancer was a devastating blow, but Andy’s attitude was an incredibly positive one.”

She said Mr Crabb had become well-known for his fight to get Sunitinib on the NHS.

Clive Stone, from Friends of Renal Oncology, which represents those in the region suffering kidney cancer, was at the funeral and described Mr Crabb as “a hero”.

Following his burial at Radley, family and friends celebrated Mr Crabb’s life at Abingdon Football Club.

People in the town held a fundraising day last year to cover the £3,300 Mr Crabb had to pay every six weeks for Sunitinib before the drug was prescribed on the NHS.