One of the world’s top golfers has rallied to the aid of a young Galway woman — because he himself is suffering from the same disease.
Major winner Jimmy Walker has sent an autographed official PGA flag to help support a golf Am Am event to raise funds for Headford woman Nicola Lavin so she can receive potentially life-changing stem cell therapy for Lyme Disease.
Nicola contracted Lyme Disease sixteen years ago in the US and her health has been ravaged by it ever since, including enduring serious heart failure.
Walker, a six-time victor on the PGA Tour, and winner of his first major, the PGA Championship, in 2016, revealed in April that he, too, is suffering from Lyme Disease.
“It feels like you’ve got the flu,” he said. “No strength. Just got nothing. And it comes and goes in waves. You never know when it’s going to pop up.” As a consequence, the Texan’s form has shown a dramatic slump this season.
Lyme disease is a debilitating illness caused by bacteria as a result of a tick bite. Symptoms include fatigue, fever, heart issues, chronic joint pain, and in some cases, paralysis, arthritis and neurological disorders.
Walker’s wife, Erin, became aware on social media of the fundraiser in aid of Nicola to take place at Ballinrobe Golf Club on Thursday, August 31 (tee times from 8am) and volunteered to get her husband to sign some official PGA memorabilia to support the event.
“She was really helpful,” says Nicola’s husband Ronan. “She empathised with all Nicola has been through and recognised many of the symptoms that she shares with Jimmy. In particular, she related to the amount of medication involved — Jimmy is on 30 tablets a day.”
Ronan points out that the Ballinrobe Am Am should have particular resonance for golfers as they are one of the categories of people most at risk from tick-borne Lyme Disease which has become increasingly prevalent in Ireland.
Lyme Disease has a host of symptoms and affects people in different ways. It is easily cured through antibiotics if diagnosed early, but becomes a major problem if not treated.
Common initial symptoms include pain, weakness, or numbness in the arms or legs; not being able to use the muscles of the face; continuing headaches; fainting; and poor memory and reduced ability to concentrate.
Nicola’s condition deteriorated progressively over the years as a series of consultants were baffled by her condition until a German laboratory last year confirmed her diagnosis of Lyme Disease.
Lyme has become so embedded in her system that traditional treatments have proved ineffective. Her only hope now to regain her health and strength, and to lead a normal life, rests with the stem cell therapy which has a high success ratio.
However, the cost of the pioneering treatment and the required stay in Germany is beyond Nicola’s means as she has been unable to work for some considerable time now due to the scale of her illness.
The golf Am Am at Ballinrobe features a host of attractive prizes for the winners, including two nights B&B and a round of golf on each of the two championship links for two people at the luxury 4-star Rosapenna Hotel and Golf Resort in Donegal; a night’s stay for two in a Courtyard Room in Donald Trump’s Doonbeg resort, a night for two with dinner in the exclusive Ballyseede Castle, Tralee and an Enniscrone Golf Club fourball worth over €400.
In addition to the Walker-signed PGA flag, a highly-coveted autographed Ireland rugby jersey will be among a series of attractive prizes to be raffled on the day.
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