Daughter reaches out to help ‘Mr. Tough Guy’

Kelly Ridges describes her father as “a man’s man,” a skilled tradesman who enjoys riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle on weekends.

“He’s ‘Mr. Tough Guy,’ ” Ridges said of her father, Pat McCarron.

McCarron is the owner of P&L Construction, a business he started several years ago after learning the construction business from his father.

McCarron and his wife, Lynn, raised their family in Chicago’s West Lawn community before moving to Orland Park nearly a decade ago.

He had completed hundreds of residential and commercial projects over the years until the sluggish economy led to a downturn in the construction trades. But McCarron has his three grandchildren and motorcycle to keep him busy.

“(Motorcycle riding) has been his and my mom’s main pastime,” Ridges said.

But McCarron’s life was significantly altered in November when an emergency appendectomy led to a cancer diagnosis.

“It’s been hard,” Ridges said.

McCarron suffers from stage 4 Burkitt’s lymphoma, an extremely rare form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He has undergone several rounds of intense chemotherapy, requiring blood infusions that made him susceptible to infections, Ridges said.

His depleted immune system has made it difficult for him to see his family or run his business, she said.

But McCarron’s prognosis is positive. His cancer has been in remission since May.

“He’s doing really well. He doesn’t like to say much. It’s hopeful,” said Ridges, whose only brother, Patrick, is a cancer survivor.

McCarron’s treatment has been expensive, and much of it is not covered by medical insurance.

To help the McCarron family pay the costs, a benefit called “Pat’s Ride for Recovery” is to be held from 1 to 6 p.m. Aug. 21 at 115 Bourbon Street, 3359 W. 115th St., Merrionette Park.

Tickets are $30, or $10 for individuals age 20 and under.

The benefit will feature food, beer, musical entertainment, a silent auction and raffles.

For information, contact Kevin Healy at (773) 386-8100 or visit patsrideforrecovery.com.

Monetary donations can be sent to Archer Bank, 3435 W. 111th St., Chicago, IL, 60655 or via PayPal at www.patsrideforrecovery.com.