Bob takes on the Tois Challenge

Bob was diagnosed with oesophagus cancer in July 2018. His treatment journey began in August 2018 with weekly chemotherapy and daily radio therapy (Monday to Friday) through until late September 2018.

Bob become reliant on a wheelchair for a week or two during his treatment and for a few weeks after until he regained strength. Bob started walking again and slowly built up his fitness which is required for his volunteer work as a Kiwi Pinger and Team Leader Trapper for the Whakatane Kiwi Trust, a role Bob is very passionate about and has been doing for almost five years. The Kiwi Trust manages the welfare of our precious native birds, especially the Kiwi, in the bush area near Whakatane. Bob walks at least 4km on the days he is in the bush which maintains his level of fitness.

On 22nd of November Bob was operated on to remove his oesophagus and almost half of his stomach. The operation to remove the cancer was delayed a month due to a liver problem, perhaps associated with the chemotherapy.

Bob was in surgery for approximately seven hours. His recovery from this meant being in a wheelchair once more for a week but not one to give up Bob soldiered on and in February 2019 was announced to be in remission, a lot of which Bob attributes to his fitness from his volunteer work.

Bob has set a challenge to himself to do the Toi's Challenge, a vigorous cross country trek, annually held in Whakatane in November. True to Bob’s nature, rather than just doing this for his own personal challenge and given his recent health scare, Bob is seeking sponsorship to raise money for the Child Cancer Foundation. Please support Bob and his cause by donating and or joining him on his challenge.