Louis Tomlinson has donated a huge amount to help One Direction’s former bodyguard, Preston Mahon, who currently requires life-saving surgery
Louis Tomlinson has helped his former bodyguard, who needs life-saving surgery. Preston Mahon, 54, was regularly seen with Louis and his former bandmates, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne and Zayn Malik – ensuring the five lads could navigate between their excited fans.
Preston was recently forced to put the brakes on his almost three-decade career helping some of the biggest names in entertainment, including One Direction, Boyzone and Westlife, due to his deteriorating health. Initially, Preston was told he needed surgery on his knee. But after the operation, medics discovered a clogged artery in his thigh. He underwent an angioplasty to clear the clot in his left thigh.
However, the artery has re-clogged and he has been told the NHS cannot intervene until the situation becomes “dire” – until he needs a bypass or an amputation, friends have said. But Preston has now exhausted all of his savings on treatment, and his circumstances have now changed, and he requires life-saving surgery on both of his legs.
The surgery is €35,000 (£30,820), totalling just over £15,400 per leg. And while his nearest and dearest have launched a GoFundMe, Louis, known for his kind heart, has donated £4,000 to the cause.
“I’m so appreciative, it means the world to me,” Preston told The Sun. He has also personally texted Doncaster-born Louis to thank him for his kind gesture. Preston went on to tell the publication: “I can’t thank him enough, wow. I wasn’t expecting that. I sent Louis a text personally saying thank you.
“All the boys from One Direction mean the world to me, I met up with all the lads again at Liam’s funeral exactly a year ago, it was the saddest time ever but a lovely reunion.”
Preston had previously paid to have stents fitted during a private operation in Spain, with the surgery being carried out by the same doctor who helped with his father’s knees in Madrid. Fans of One Direction, who were used to seeing Preston at concerts and outside the lads’ hotels, have all rallied around him on social media.
“We love you Preston,” said one. A second penned: “Louis has donated £4K to the fundraiser for Preston Mahone, who’s worked previously with the band. Preston has lost most of his physical ability and use of his legs.”
Another went on to write: “Louis has donated £4000 to the fundraiser whose goal is to enable Preston Mahon, former security guard for One Direction, to undergo a life-saving operation!” This isn’t the first time Louis has thrown his support behind a cause close to his heart.
Over the years, Louis has supported organisations such as Niamh’s Next Step, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, located in South Yorkshire. Currently, Louis is riding a high following the release of his latest single, Palaces, taken from his upcoming third solo album, How Did I Get Here?
Speaking about his third record, Tomlinson told Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1: “Just taking more risk in general, and you need confidence to do that. And I definitely built up a lot of confidence from the tour shows I’ve played recently. You know what it’s like. I left One Direction, and you want to spread your wings and show who you are as an artist.
“And those things are really important, but the motivation behind those ideas is often not correct. And I think from this album, I was ready to embrace all the things that used to scare me.”
You can donate to Preston’s GoFundMe here.
