Help Highway’s hero make a full recovery
Nico Viljoen, a former SAPS officer and soldier, needs to raise R500 000 for specialised treatment for Recurrent Metastatic Melanoma Cancer.
DURING his time in the South African Police force and as a member of the military, Hillcrest’s Nico Viljoen has continuously put his life on the line to protect the lives of the innocent.
His family now needs the Highway community’s help to save their hero.
Nico was diagnosed with Recurrent Metastatic Melanoma Cancer two weeks ago. His fiancé, Tracy, said this was likely to have been caused from the excessive time spent out in the harsh sun in Iraq.
He was a policeman in a specialised unit in SAPS and later moved to the UK where he joined the 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment. He then did six years in Iraq as a private security consultant and another four years in Afghanistan.
More than a year-and-a-half ago, the dedicated family man had a malignant mole and the lymph nodes under his left arm removed as well as radiation treatment. Every three months he would go for blood tests and every six months he would go for a PET scan.
The doctors broke the life-altering news of the stage four cancer two weeks ago.
“The Melanoma cancer that has progressed to a stage four cancer has spread inside my body,” said Nico. “It’s strange because I have a different mentality on how I deal with things. I compartmentalise and deal with each thing head on, one at a time.”
Specialised treatment is available abroad at the Sheba Medical Center in Israel and has been recommended to Nico by doctors.
“This particular treatment has seen very positive results in other patients with similar symptoms, and is not available in South Africa,” said his fiancé.
ALSO READ: PHOTOS: Help Highway’s hero make a full recovery
The family needs to raise a total of R500 000 for his treatment.
His treatment, once the R500 000 is raised, will take three weeks.
“As soon as I land, the first thing they will do is radiation treatment for my eye and then they will continue with the other treatment,” said Nico.
To put up their need for support on Facebook, and to launch the Backabuddy page, she admitted that more than a massive amount of persuading was involved to share his story and photos. Eventually he relented.
“Nico is an extremely strong and proud person, and bloody stubborn too,” laughed Tracy. “Mostly because he didn’t want all of the ladies to see the size of his… hospital undies!”
At the fund-raiser, hosted in Everton last Friday, his close friends and family gathered to show their support while enjoying an evening of upbeat, local musos. “This is flipping phenomenal. It’s absolutely amazing,” said Nico as his eyes well with tears. “Words escape me.”
“There are so many people to thank; my mom, my fiancé, Warren and Lee for offering up their home for the fund-raiser, Ensure Security for their support, my family and everyone across the globe who has helped out,” said Nico.
At the time of going to print, Nico’s Backabuddy page, including offline donations, has raised R328 333.49. To make a donation, click HERE.
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