The Styal Teaching Professional was diagnosed with cancer four years ago. Complications arising due to his chemotherapy treatment left him unable to work for a sustained period. With support from The PGA along the way, he is now back at work and coaching again
PGA Member Graham Neville was diagnosed with testicular cancer in April 2021, shortly after the Covid lockdowns ended.
Having coached and played regularly for several years, Neville couldn’t work for three years and was house bound due to issues with his eyes as a result of chemotherapy. Last year, he had surgery on both eyes.
PGA Member Support Manager Jonathan Paine provided support.
“It was quite a rigorous regime. There were a lot of appointments very quickly and between diagnosis and surgery, there was nine working days. In those nine days, I think I had eight different appointments,” Neville said.
“My wife was my PA for the first few months, because I just had appointment after appointment. Jonathan Paine from the North Region heard something on the grapevine, and said, ‘Are you working?’
Pictured: PGA Coach Graham Neville
“I said ‘no’, because we had just come out of Covid. It was two days after lockdown. You've got to self-isolate because you're having surgery and you're not allowed to see people, and then you have chemotherapy and you've got no immune system. Jonathan said: ‘Have you heard of this (The Benevolent Fund)?’
“It was just good to know that one, there was support from the PGA and two, it was financial, which is obviously good."
Neville added: “The mental side of it was the most comforting, in all honesty – that there were actually people that cared.”
Neville was referred to PGA staff, who provided consistent moral support. PGA Care also provided financial support, and last summer he was well enough to return to work.
“I was in a bad place. When it happened, you start thinking once the initial three or four weeks (is over), and you've got your head around cancer, you've got your head around chemotherapy, I still need to pay the mortgage, and I still need to pay bills, and I still have a child to feed,” he said.
“I'd urge people to seek support as soon as they can because it is a huge help emotionally and financially" - Graham Neville
“Then The PGA goes, ‘Here's a little bit of money to help along the way’.
Four years on from his diagnosis, Neville works a few days a week at Styal Golf Club, in Cheshire, and is determined to coach and play on a regular basis again one day.
“I'd urge people to seek support as soon as they can because it is a huge help emotionally and financially,” he added.
“You can go to dark places in your head when you have difficult situations, difficult life situations, and any support at all is beneficial.”
To find out more about PGA Care and how it can support you, click here.
