Medical Emergency - A Message from Toby Tylor’s Family

Hello,

Toby's family is helping him create this fundraiser. He finds it humbling and difficult to ask for help, however his situation is an emergency. We are urgently asking on his behalf because time is precious.

We are deeply saddened to report that Toby has widespread, metastasized, severe cancer and recently reported a prognosis of possibly 24-36 months’ remaining life expectancy. Toby has a rare and aggressive metastatic prostate cancer along with widespread bone cancer that has spread to his spine. He is scheduled to soon undergo radiation and chemo treatments, in part to attempt to reduce the size of tumours in his spine enough to prevent paralysis.

Toby worked as long as he could, longer than many might have and longer than his Doctors had recommended, to try to continue to be self sufficient and take responsibility for himself. It finally became impossible for him to work and he gradually depleted his reserves. He has now essentially run out of money and credit, other than ongoing monthly government pensions which are vastly below the poverty line.

Severe Fall Injuries on October 1, 2025

We were just about to help launch this gofundme fundraiser to respectfully request help with Toby’s living and select cancer-treatment expenses when, on October 1, 2025, he had a serious fall and broke his left femur, the largest leg bone – a very serious and dangerous injury. The femur is also the largest bone in the body. It remains to be determined if Toby will be able to recover fully enough to be able to ever walk again. We are staying positive, especially due to Toby's courage, optimism, faith, strength and determination.

On October 2, Toby and his girlfriend, Naomi, were emergency airlifted from Churchill in northern Manitoba to Winnipeg. Naomi sat tightly beside his stretcher on a small plane for the long, painful flight out of Churchill to Winnipeg. Toby endured an excruciatingly-painful ground transport to Winnipeg hospital. They then spent Toby's exceedingly painful night in the Hospital's Emergency Department together. Toby was admitted to hospital at 6 am on October 3 and entered emergency surgery at 10:30 am.

Toby has been in so much pain from his femur fracture that he has been barely able to speak or move, while already having been receiving maximum dosages of both morphine and fentanyl for his excruciatingly painful bone cancer.

Fund-Raising Goal – Next 30 Days -- $20,000

We are respectfully hoping to raise $20,000 to be applied directly to Toby’s chequing account to help him pay his rent, food and medical-treatment costs not covered by the Government, following discharge from hospital.

Below is the original gofundme text, in Toby’s words, that was just about to be posted on his behalf when he fell. Thank you very much for your interest and consideration of this dire need. From Toby’s Family, led by his sister Bryn Putnam.

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Please Help Toby Through His Cancer Journey

A Message from Toby

Hi, it's me, Toby. I am deeply saddened to share that I have widespread, terminal cancer which is believed to have started in my prostrate and has metastasized to my bones, including my spine, which is putting me at risk of paralysis. I am staying positive, keeping the faith and doing my very best. I'm 76 years old and, after working as long as I possibly could, I have finally run out of resources. I am now too sick and weak to work, facing intensive treatments to manage profound pain and prevent paralysis. It is very humbling to need to request assistance but I have exhausted all other options.

My Immediate Need

My total monthly pension income of $1,206.39 CDN does not cover my basic needs: food, rent, and select cancer-treatment costs. While I'm grateful that most medical expenses are covered by the Government, I am responsible for certain treatment-related travel, accommodations and things like wheelchairs and walkers. I also face extraordinarily high food prices in Churchill, Manitoba, where I live.

Monthly Income: $1,206.39 (CPP $397.94 + OAS $808.45)

Monthly Rent: $385.00 (rent-geared-to-income government housing)

Remaining Monthly Income

for Food, Living and Medical Costs: $821.39

Due to receiving Employment Insurance income during my medical leave, I didn’t qualify for the additional GIS (Guaranteed Income Supplement $1,086.88) for low-income seniors, probably until a future start date of July 2026, although my Social Worker is investigating.

My Life's Work

I have worked as a passionate chef, restaurateur, artist and writer throughout my adult life. I have also completed lifelong studies of the World’s major religions, spirituality and many other subjects.

Many of you joined me at my “casual fine dining” restaurant and art gallery, Electric City Gardens in Peterborough, Ontario, where I had the honour of serving you for 31 years (1986-2017). It was once named the "Jewel of the Kawarthas". Together, we enjoyed cuisines and wines from around the world. I especially cherished hosting many of your family gatherings—memories I still hold dear.

I often provided part-time employment and free meals to underprivileged people in our community, and they would routinely visit me for supportive conversation outside of restaurant hours.

After closing the restaurant, I became a travelling chef:

• First, I worked in an exciting role as a fly-in, fly-out chef (14 days on/14 off) with an Innuit company on Baffin Island. I was deeply saddened to be part of a mass layoff due to downsizing of operations.

• Next, I worked and lived at Sasquatch Mountain Resort, atop a mountain in Agassiz, B.C. During a tv-covered avalanche there, many were airlifted out but I stayed to cook. I was laid off from Sasquatch due to COVID lockdowns.

• During lockdown, I was very grateful and fortunate to find a live-work chef position with Lazy Bear Lodge., a renowned polar-bear and whale-watching resort in Churchill, Manitoba, the "Polar Bear Capital of the World". I settled in Churchill in Spring 2020 and worked with Lazy Bear from 2020 to 2024.

Why Churchill?

I live in safe, rent-geared-to-income government housing here with social-service supports. Most of my medical care is located in Churchill: my doctors, dentist, social worker, health centre, hospital, pharmacy. My girlfriend and friends are here to support me. My Specialists are located in Winnipeg. When I need to go to Winnipeg periodically for medical, my airfare is paid by the Government but I am responsible for housing (if not staying in a govt facility), meals and taxis.

How Funds Will Help

Your contributions will help cover:

• Food costs (significantly elevated in remote Churchill)

• Rent

• Medical expenses: accommodation, meals, taxis, etc., for cancer treatments not fully covered by Government. I need chemo and radiation treatments as soon as possible, partly to try to prevent paralysis.

• Other incidental living expenses

Thank You from Toby

I am deeply grateful for all the friendships that we have maintained for decades, many through only Facebook in recent years. I am keeping the faith, facing my pain and staying brave.

When I recover from my broken-femur crisis, I intend to resume my cancer treatments and be able to continue my studies and writing while convalescing in between.

Thank you very much for considering my situation and any help you might provide. Please feel no pressure or obligation. Your friendship has always meant the world to me.

With love and gratitude,

Toby

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Any amount helps. If you're unable to contribute financially, please consider sharing this campaign with others who know Toby or might be moved to help.