Grateful Big Issue seller vows to fight on

A MAGAZINE seller battling cancer for the third time has offered a heartfelt thanks to the people of Dingwall for their support through tough times — and vowed to do everything in his power to beat the disease once again.

Allan Harper (53) made headlines himself earlier this year when he was named one of The Big Issue’s top sellers in Scotland.

It was a remarkable achievement for Mr Harper who is now a familiar figure, seven days a week, outside the town’s Mart Road Tesco superstore.

His accolade came in recognition of average sales of 160 copies of the magazine, which was set up to help homeless people to help themselves, per week.

Mr Harper, who recently secured temporary accommodation in Dingwall, told the North Star: "I’ve got myself a little flat in Dingwall. It’s temporary but it’s a start and I’m delighted.

"I’ve recently found out that the cancer in my right eye has come back but I am going to do everything I can to overcome it. I’ve got a wee support network around me now and I would like to thank the people of Dingwall for making me feel at home here. That support has helped me immensely.

"I’m an ex-drug addict and every day I’m here doing this job has been a help. I have discovered that taking drugs and drinking is not the solution to my problems."

Mr Harper has now worked the Dingwall pitch for 18 months having first started selling The Big Issue back in 1991 after a period living rough on the streets of London.

He moved back to his native Scotland nine years later, gaining employment as a chef but was then hit by a number of health setbacks before returning to selling the magazine.

He said: "I feel now that my life is starting to take shape. I’m focussed on what I do. The staff and management at Tesco here have been very kind. I know hundreds of people — I suppose my life is an open book because I share it with 5000 strangers. If I’m not here one day, I’ll find out that someone has said: ‘Where’s Allan?’ It feels like Dingwall is now a place I’m happy to call my home."

Having lost a kidney to cancer more than 10 years ago and lost an eyelid to the disease in 2015, he declares himself to determined to come through the latest setback, with medication and a schedule of hospital and GP appointments in place.

He put his selling success down to the fact that he speaks to everybody he meets.