Cancer patient returns to golf course to help raise £1,000 for cancer services

A cancer patient returned to the golf course for the first time since his diagnosis two years ago to help raise money for our cancer care services.

Gary Ager, who works as a Project Manager at Apex Lifts, played alongside colleagues, contractors, and friends during the charity fundraiser, which was held at Birchwood Park Golf and Country Club. As well as raising £1,000 for Galton Day Unit and Lawrence Ward¹, the event also marked the 25^th anniversary of him organising the company’s annual golf day.

The father of two’s cancer journey began in 2000 with a diagnosis of laryngeal cancer, a type of cancer that affects the voice box, which resulted in surgery to remove his voice box. Then in July 2024 he was diagnosed with incurable metastatic² colon and liver cancer and has been undergoing chemotherapy on Galton Day Unit every 14 days since.

Gary Ager Cheque Presentation - Louise Farrow, Gary Ager and Donna Law

Gary, 62, from the Isle of Grain, said: “I’ve not been able to play golf since my second diagnosis of cancer last July so this year’s golf day was really meaningful. Not only did it mean I was back on the course for the first time in a year, it also allowed me to give something back to the hospital and the staff as a way of thanking them for their support during my cancer journey.

“Every single person in cancer services works so hard for cancer patients – I’ve seen it first-hand. They are absolutely fantastic. They are so caring and can never do enough for you.

“At the start I thought I’d raise just a couple of hundred pounds but that amount quickly grew thanks to the generosity of those who took part on the day, plus a raffle with many of the prizes donated by Apex staff and contractors.”

Louise Farrow, Macmillan Lead Cancer Nurse and Head of Nursing Cancer Services, said: “A huge thank you to Gary for organising the fundraiser for Galton Day Unit and Lawrence Ward. Thank you also to everyone who took part in the golf day and helped to raise a magnificent amount of money.

“It is always a shock when someone receives a diagnosis of incurable cancer, but it is wonderful to see how patients like Gary often respond by organising fundraisers to support our cancer services so we can improve the patient experience and provide them with the best care.”

The Macmillan Cancer Care Unit is a purpose-built unit at Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham, and was opened in September 2009. The unit has been providing cancer services since this date and has an increasing number of patients accessing services year on year. The unit comprises of Lawrence Ward, Galton Day Unit (GDU) and an information and resource area. It is dedicated to supporting patients diagnosed with cancer and their families. The Cancer Unit has successfully exceeded the level required to retain the Macmillan Quality Environment Mark® in the past year. MQEM was the first ever standard for assessing whether cancer facilities meet the holistic needs of people living with cancer. MQEM aims to set the highest possible standards for cancer care environments, driving forward the design and use of these facilities, based on a robust understanding of the needs of people affected by cancer.
Metastatic cancer is cancer that has spread from its original site to distant parts of the body, making it more challenging to treat and manage.

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