Family and friends to stage golf tournament in memory of Stockton Heath CJD victim (From This Is Cheshire)

Family and friends to stage golf tournament in memory of Stockton Heath CJD victim

2:00pm Saturday 20th March 2010 in

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A STOCKTON Heath family have organised a golf tournament in memory of a dad-of-two who died of a brain condition which affects just one in a million people.

Colin Robinson contracted Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) in May 2009 and died, aged 51, at home with his wife Anne by his side last September.

His brother-in-law Tim Gibbons, who lives in Surrey, is now holding a golf competition to raise money for the CJD Support Network, a charity which offers advice and support to sufferers and carers affected by the illness.

Among those who will take part are Colin and Anne’s two sons Paul and David, aged 14 and 12.

Anne, aged 49 and an A&E doctor at Warrington Hospital, said: “When I realised it was likely that my husband Colin was about to be diagnosed with CJD my first thoughts were how to explain this to our children.”

It was shortly after Christmas 2008 that Colin’s memory started to fail and Anne became convinced he had dementia.

Colin was diagnosed with severe depression but later saw a neurologist at Liverpool’s Walton Centre for MRI and EEG scans.

The family discovered Colin had CJD, which triggers abnormal protein levels in the brain and gives patients only three to six months to live, in May last year.

Colin had stopped working six weeks before and could no longer drive, operate his mobile phone or use money. Soon after he needed a wheelchair and his Grappenhall Road home was adapted with ramps and rails.

Anne added: “We agreed the boys must know the truth so we told them that Colin was dying. There were a lot of tears shed that night.”

By the time Anne and Colin celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary Colin was barely eating and was sleeping downstairs on a hospital bed.

Anne said: “I realised Colin was nearing the end of his life. It was important the children knew he was deteriorating and we talked about what should happen if he became ill while they were at school. They wanted to be called and brought home.”

Colin died at 5.30am on September 24 with Anne by his side and the boys in bed upstairs Anne added: “I woke them and told them their dad had died. They each in turn came to hold his hand and say goodbye.”

The fundraising tournament takes place on June 4 at Warrington Golf Club and will also include putting and chipping competitions.

Tim, who is hoping to raise £7,000, is appealing to businesses for donations or prizes for contestants. The cost for taking part is £100, which will include a prize giving dinner.

l If you are interested call Tim at tim.gibbons2@btinternet.com