Cancer survivor wants to visit 100 golf courses in 12 months
Robert Tilbury (50) was diagnosed with stage four squamous cell cancer in 2014 and doctors told him he had 18 months left to live. Now, he wants to help others.
When former Kempton Park sportsman of the year and professional golfer Robert Tilbury (50) found a lump on his neck while shaving one day in 2014, he had no idea his life was about to change drastically.
The Birchleigh resident was diagnosed with stage four squamous cell cancer and doctors told him he had 18 months left to live.
“The news was heartbreaking; a lot of things went through my mind,” the father-of-two told Express.
With his tough sportsman mentality, Tilbury was able to get through treatment and is cancer-free today, but his road to recovery was no easy feat.
The radiation made his throat so sore he had to be fed through a feeding tube. He lost about 27kg, he suffered hair loss and his teeth fell out. He has a constant ringing in his ears and his salivary glands no longer work.
“I was a super fit sportsman but at the time of treatment I was a walking skeleton, feeding myself with a syringe. It was degrading and I was angry and depressed.”
Through a close-knit group of caretakers and with the help of the Cancer Heroes Foundation, Tilbury managed to get back on his feet.
Now, the avid golfer plans to spend 12 months traveling to the top-100 golf courses in South Africa, where he will raise funds and awareness for the early detection of head and neck cancer.
“These cancers aren’t well-known in South Africa and they are so much easier to treat when detected earlier,” Tilbury explained. “Golf will be a way to access communities across the country.”
Tilbury’s challenge kicks off on Friday and will see him traveling to courses around Johannesburg and Pretoria. When he’s done in Gauteng, he’ll be off to Cape Town and work his way back with the hope to end at Sun City in Rustenburg.
“The fact that something positive might come from this is what keeps me motivated. Like I always say to my daughter: ‘I never said it would be easy, I said it would be worth it. Courage is stronger than fear’.”
Tilbury is looking for a sponsor for his journey. Anyone who might be able to help can call him on 064 651 5324 or email rob@igtgolf.org or rob@cancer-heroes.com
