Support Toby as he goes Round 2 with cancer
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Hi everyone, my name is Jack and I’m setting up this page to help my twin brother, Toby, ex-Royal Marine and Dad of 2, as he goes Round 2 with cancer.
TL;DR we're raising money to cover essential living expenses for Toby and his family, as he goes through cancer treatment and recovery. Having overcome melanoma in 2021, Toby is now facing stage 3 germ cell cancer.
Toby vs. Cancer
If you know Toby, you know he’s the kind of person who faces life head-on, no matter how tough the challenge - and serving 10 years in the Royal Marines with tours and operations all over the world, Toby’s been in some tough situations. Right now, he’s up against a different type of battle: stage 3 germ cell cancer, both seminoma and non-seminoma (a form of testicular cancer) that’s spread and formed a large tumour in his lower abdomen. It’s wrapped around critical arteries like his aorta and IVC, making treatment and the follow-on surgery incredibly complex.
This isn't the first time Toby's faced cancer. In 2021, he was diagnosed with (and overcame) melanoma while he was still in the Royal Marines. However, this run-in with cancer made him undeployable - ultimately leading to the end of his military career.
The treatment
Right now, Toby’s just started his second cycle of BEP chemotherapy. The first cycle was rough but Toby stayed positive, making jokes with his wardmates and the nurses. Currently, the plan is for 4 cycles.
The treatment has caused his hair to fall out but he's happy rocking the slaphead look! He’s less enthusiastic about having to have a testicle removed as it was where the cancer spread from. Although he has already started making plans to convince the doctors to let him preserve it for the mantelpiece…
Toby has a young family with his partner, Fiona, and 2 boys, aged 4 and 2. Together they've remained strong to support each other through this, despite the immense physical and emotional toll on him right now.
How you can help
On top of all of this, the financial strain is mounting, too. Toby recently transitioned to a new job in education after 10 years of dedicated service with the Royal Marines. Unfortunately, he’s only eligible for sick pay for a short amount of time which doesn’t come close to covering his family’s monthly bills, because he hasn’t been in his new role long enough.
The treatment and recovery, if successful the first time around, is likely to put Toby out of work for months, and as he has been off work since the end of November, there are several months of general living expenses he and his family need to cover. The last thing he needs is the worry about how to keep the lights on and a roof over their heads.
We're aiming to raise £10,000 to help cover his family's living costs and expenses during Toby’s treatment and recovery.
- Easing the stress of financial worries so he can focus on his treatment and hopeful recovery.
- Travel costs associated with his treatment, (the bulk of his treatment is happening at a hospital 45-60 mins away with daily commutes).
- Supporting his family during this challenging time, ensuring they can maintain a sense of normalcy for their young kids.
- Covering household bills and essential expenses for his family while Toby is unable to work, including childcare in place of Toby.
Whether you’re a friend, part of the Royal Marines family, or someone touched by his story, we’d be so grateful for any support.
Toby's also set up social media where he’s sharing milestones, videos, and messages along the way. It gives a glimpse into his journey with cancer, showing the ups and the downs - and will hopefully help others who are facing similar situations.
Please feel free to share this page and his social media with your networks to help spread the word!
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH
Jack
Organizer and beneficiary
Jack Farrow
Organizer
England
T F
Beneficiary