Kind hearted golfers tee off for pal and popular Peterborough roofer Neil

TO be faced with a personal battle against cancer is life-changing enough – but for a child to be fighting the disease at the same time is an unbearable thought.

But that is exactly the devastating blow dealt to Safe Local Trades roofer Neil Rickett and his family.

It was on his return from a golfing trip to Portugal in October 2015 that Neil from Whittlesey first became ill, thinking he was suffering from food poisoning.

A lump on his neck came and vanished within a week, but when a second lump appeared, Neil took the decision to visit his GP.

He said: “I was sent for a biopsy and the news I received was not what I was expecting. My life was turned upside when I was told I had stage 4 cancer, and four months after the lump appeared I underwent a neck dissection, followed by intensive treatment, which included chemo and radiotherapy and a blood transfusion.”

Months on a long road to recovery followed for Neil, who received huge support from fellow traders, family and friends – only then to be dealt another cruel blow, his teenage daughter Katie being diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma.

Neil said: “It was like it was all happening to someone else. We couldn’t believe it. Although Katie is still very poorly, she is doing well and has received some wonderful care.”

And in support of both Neil and Katie, golfing pals recently rallied round to tee off at Ramsey Golf Club in charity golf day.

The generosity of the friends and families of the 120 golfers taking part raised almost £9,000 – which will be divided between Addenbrookes’ Hospital in Cambridge, and The Teenage Cancer Support Trust – both which supported the Rickett family.

Neil added: “You really don’t know what can be around the corner and the impact it can have on family and worklife. I am lucky that I have so many great people around me and would like to thank all these keen golfers who raised this fantastic amount of money for these two very worthy causes.”