Phil Reeve Driving Instructor

20/10/2026

Cancer doesn’t discriminate. It steals your time, takes away y… Gary Battison needs your support for Support Phil Reeve’s Family in His Fight Against Cancer

20/10/2026

As I prepare to start chemotherapy following my bowel cancer surgery, I’m facing more months away from work, with another operation still to come.

The loss of income is putting a real strain on my everyday finances, and I’m trying to ease some of that worry so I can concentrate on getting through treatment and recovering.

The kindness and generosity I’ve already received have been overwhelming, and I’m genuinely grateful to everyone who’s supported me.

For anyone who would like to help, my GoFundMe link is below. Every bit of support makes a difference. ❤️

Cancer doesn’t discriminate. It steals your time, takes away y… Gary Battison needs your support for Support Phil Reeve’s Family in His Fight Against Cancer

13/10/2026

A little update on my cancer journey

After what feels like a long wait, I finally have a date to start chemotherapy — Thursday 5th November.

As many of you know, I had major bowel surgery back in August to remove the original tumour. Thankfully, that operation was successful, but further tests revealed that the cancer had spread to two small areas of my liver.

The encouraging news is that there is no evidence of cancer anywhere else, and my medical team believe the two areas in my liver can be surgically removed.

The next stage is three months of chemotherapy, followed by another operation, hopefully in February, to remove the remaining cancer.

The important thing is that we’re still working towards a cure, and that hasn’t changed.

I’m not going to pretend I’m looking forward to chemotherapy. I’m nervous about how it will affect me, but I’m feeling stronger every week following my first operation, and I’m determined to face this next chapter with the same positive attitude.

If everything goes to plan, I’m hoping to be fully recovered and back doing what I love by May next year.

I also want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has supported me and my family, whether through donations, messages, phone calls or simply checking in. The kindness we’ve received has been incredible, especially while I’ve been unable to work.

With chemotherapy and further surgery ahead, it’s likely to be several more months before I can return to work. Any continued support, whether through a donation or simply sharing our GoFundMe page, would mean a great deal to us.

Our GoFundMe page:
https://gofund.me/297053859

For now, I’m enjoying feeling more like myself again, taking things one day at a time and making the most of the good days.

Cancer might be part of my life at the moment, but I’m certainly not letting it become my whole life.

One step at a time. Next stop, November 5th.

Thank you all for being part of this journey.

Cancer doesn’t discriminate. It steals your time, takes away y… Gary Battison needs your support for Support Phil Reeve’s Family in His Fight Against Cancer

28/09/2026

Health update

I had my oncology appointment today and now have a clearer idea of the next stage of treatment.

The PET scan has confirmed that the cancer has spread to two small areas on my liver, but thankfully nothing has shown up anywhere else.

The liver team still believe the areas are potentially removable, so the plan is for me to have around 3 months of chemotherapy, followed by further scans. If everything still looks suitable after that, the liver surgeons will then look at operating.

The oncologist has confirmed that treatment is still being given with the possibility of a cure, although of course there are no guarantees.

For now, this means I will continue to remain off work while I focus on treatment and recovery. Thank you again to all of my pupils, families and everyone who has sent messages of support — it really is appreciated.

I’ll keep everyone updated when I know more about when I may be able to return to work

26/09/2026

A little update from me.

It’s been a few weeks since my surgery and I wanted to say another massive thank you to everyone who has donated, shared the fundraiser or simply checked in on me and the family.

The operation removed the bowel tumour, but the journey isn’t over yet. I’m still recovering from major surgery, getting used to life with my temporary stoma, and I’m now waiting to move on to the next stage of treatment.

On Monday I have an important meeting with the hospital to discuss the results of my recent scans and what happens next with treatment.

Being self-employed as a driving instructor means that while I’m unable to work, there isn’t a normal wage coming in, and the support we’ve received has genuinely helped take some of that pressure away while I concentrate on getting better.

I know many of you have already donated, and I honestly don’t expect anyone to donate twice. But if you could share the fundraiser again, that would mean just as much. Every share gets it in front of somebody new.

We’re incredibly grateful for everything people have already done for us. Thank you to everyone who has supported me, Laura and the kids through what has been a pretty surreal couple of months.

Hopefully Monday gives us a clearer picture of the road ahead.

Thank you ❤️
Phil

20/09/2026

A more detailed update from me, as quite a lot has happened over the last few weeks.
It has now been just over six weeks since my operation on 7th August. The surgery lasted around eight hours and involved removing the bowel tumour. I also came out of surgery with a temporary ileostomy, which was always a possibility beforehand but has obviously been a big adjustment to everyday life.

The good news is that the surgeon has confirmed that the bowel tumour itself was completely removed. However, the pathology results showed that 6 out of 36 lymph nodes contained cancer, which means I now need chemotherapy to reduce the risk of the cancer returning.

There is also still the small lesion on my liver that was identified before the operation. The doctors have been investigating that further and I have since had another liver MRI, followed by a PET-CT scan on 14th September. I am currently waiting to speak to the oncology team so that I can find out exactly what the next stage of treatment will involve.

The plan is still being discussed in terms of curative treatment, which is obviously what I am focusing on. The chemotherapy will be aimed both at dealing with any remaining microscopic cancer cells and helping determine the best way to treat the liver lesion, whether that eventually involves ablation, surgery or another approach.
Recovery from the operation itself is going in the right direction, but it has been much slower and more demanding than simply “having an operation and getting back to normal.” I am gradually getting stronger, walking more and becoming much more confident managing the ileostomy — which we have named Henry (like the vacum cleaner, as his bag always needs changing!!!) — but I am still very much recovering and treatment has not even started yet.

One of the biggest practical effects of all of this has been being unable to work.
As a self-employed driving instructor, if I am not teaching, I do not earn. There is no company sick pay sitting in the background, and my work has effectively been on hold since the diagnosis and operation.
Before all of this I was working regularly and supporting my family through my driving instruction income. I had originally hoped that the operation and recovery period would be the main interruption, but with chemotherapy now ahead, the reality is that the time away from work is going to be considerably longer than any of us first expected.

I am hoping to return when I am medically able to do so, but I also have to be realistic. Driving instruction means spending hours in a car, concentrating continuously, dealing with emergency situations if necessary and being physically well enough to work safely with pupils. It is not something I can simply rush back into while recovering from major surgery or undergoing treatment.

We are managing things as carefully as we can and have made use of the support available to us, but there are still the normal household bills, car costs and day-to-day expenses while my usual income is not there.

That is why the support we have already received through this fundraiser has meant so much. It has taken some of the immediate financial pressure away and allowed me to concentrate more on recovering and getting through treatment rather than feeling that I have to return to work before I am ready.

I do not want these updates to sound like I am constantly asking people for money. I mainly want everyone who has donated or shared the fundraiser to know exactly where things stand and why the support has been so valuable to us.

To everyone who has donated, shared the page, sent messages or checked in on me — thank you. It genuinely has made a difference.
Another huge thank you to Gary for setting the fundraiser up in the first place, and to Laura and the kids, who have had to adjust to all of this alongside me.

For now, I am waiting for the oncology appointment and the results of the recent scans. Once I know the chemotherapy plan and what happens next with the liver lesion, I will post another update.
One stage at a time.

Cancer doesn’t discriminate. It steals your time, takes away y… Gary Battison needs your support for Support Phil Reeve’s Family in His Fight Against Cancer

12/09/2026

Just a quick update on where things are and what’s happening over the next week.

I’m still recovering from the operation and getting a bit stronger as the weeks go on. I’m still getting tired quite easily, so I’m trying not to overdo things, but generally I’m doing okay. I’m also getting much more used to life with my ileostomy, which has definitely been a learning curve.

The next big thing is my PET-CT scan on Monday.

We know that the bowel tumour was completely removed, but the results afterwards showed cancer in 6 of the 36 lymph nodes they took out, so I will need chemotherapy. There’s also still the small spot on my liver that they’re investigating. The PET scan should hopefully give the doctors a clearer picture of everything before they decide exactly what happens next.

I won’t pretend the waiting isn’t difficult. Not knowing what they’re going to find or exactly what treatment I’m going to need is probably the hardest part at the moment. The doctors have said they’re treating me with curative intent though, so that’s what I’m concentrating on.

For now it’s really just a case of getting Monday out of the way, waiting for the results and then seeing what oncology says.

I also want to thank everyone who’s donated to or shared the GoFundMe. Being self-employed means I don’t earn anything while I’m not teaching, and I still don’t know how long chemotherapy is going to keep me away from work. The money that’s been raised has genuinely helped us while I’ve been off.

If anyone does still want to donate or share the fundraiser, we’d really appreciate it. There’s absolutely no pressure to do so. I’m very aware that people have their own bills and problems to deal with, and I’m already incredibly grateful for what people have done for us.

And a big thank you to Laura, who’s had to pick up an awful lot while I’ve been recovering.

So that’s where we are.

PET scan Monday, then we’ll see what comes next.

Cancer doesn’t discriminate. It steals your time, takes away y… Gary Battison needs your support for Support Phil Reeve’s Family in His Fight Against Cancer

04/09/2026

A little update from me

It’s been nearly a month since my operation on 7th August, so I thought it was time to let everyone know where things currently stand and what happens next.

The biggest bit of good news is that the surgery was successful and I’ve now been told that the bowel itself is cancer-free. After everything that’s happened over the last few months, hearing those words was a massive moment for me and my family.

Recovery is still very much ongoing. I’m getting stronger, but recovering from an 8-hour operation definitely isn’t something you can rush.

I’m also continuing to get used to life with my temporary stoma -something I certainly never expected to be dealing with, but which is gradually becoming part of everyday life.

Unfortunately, this isn’t quite the end of the road yet.

There is still the lesion on my liver that needs dealing with, and I’ll also need chemotherapy, both to reduce the risk of the bowel cancer returning and to tackle the liver lesion.

I’m now waiting for oncology to put together the exact treatment plan. After chemotherapy, the next steps regarding my liver will depend on how everything responds, with further treatment such as ablation or surgery potentially being considered.

I’ve also been told that I cannot drive for 6–8 weeks following the operation. Although I'm starting to feel more like myself, I'm still not able to return to work as a driving instructor.

Getting back to teaching isn't just about being able to sit behind the wheel. I need to be fit and strong enough to teach safely and, if necessary, use the dual controls in an emergency.

For now, the plan is simple: recover, get stronger, meet oncology and then take on the next stage of treatment. One step at a time.

I also want to give a very special thank you to my wife, Laura

While I've been recovering, she has quite literally been doing everything — looking after me, looking after the kids, keeping the house and family going and generally picking up all the things that I've simply not been able to do.

I know the last few months haven't been easy for her either, and I genuinely don't know what I would have done without her.

I also want to say a massive thank you to Gary Battison who took it upon himself to set up the GoFundMe for me and my family.

Being self-employed and suddenly finding myself unable to work was one of my biggest worries when all of this started. What Gary did, and the incredible generosity everyone has shown since, has taken some of that pressure away at a time when we really needed it. I'll never forget that.

And to every single person who has donated, shared the GoFundMe, messaged me, checked in or offered help - thank you.

Sometimes it's difficult to properly put into words just how much that support means.

There’s still a way to go, and chemotherapy is obviously the next big hurdle, but compared with where I was a month ago, 've got a hell of a lot to be grateful for.

Bowel surgery done. Bowel cancer removed. Recovery underway. Oncology and chemotherapy next.

One stage at a time. I'll get there.

Thank you everyone.

Phil

Cancer doesn’t discriminate. It steals your time, takes away y… Gary Battison needs your support for Support Phil Reeve’s Family in His Fight Against Cancer

27/08/2026

Just wanted to give everyone a little update on how things are going.

It’s now nearly three weeks since my operation, and thankfully I’m home and recovering. The operation itself took around 8 hours, and I’m pleased to say the bowel tumour was successfully removed.

I’m slowly getting stronger each day and managing to get out for short walks, although I’m definitely learning that recovery is a marathon rather than a sprint! I’m also getting much more used to life with my temporary ileostomy, which has been a big adjustment but is gradually becoming part of the normal routine.

There is still more treatment ahead. The next stage is dealing with the small spot on my liver, and I’m expecting chemotherapy to be part of that treatment. The doctors have made it clear that the aim is still to cure me, which is obviously the most important thing.

I’m not going to pretend the last few months have been easy, and there are still days when everything feels like a lot. But compared with where I was immediately after surgery, I can definitely see the progress I’m making.

I want to give a particular thank you to Laura Reeve. She has been absolutely incredible throughout all of this and has done so much for me and our family, especially since I came home from hospital. She’s been looking after me, helping me with everything I need and keeping everything else going at the same time. I genuinely don’t know how I would have got through these last few weeks without her.

I also want to give a massive thank you to Gary Battison for setting up the GoFundMe in the first place. I never expected to find myself in a position where something like this would be needed, and asking for help doesn’t come naturally to me. What Gary did, and the response it has received, has taken a huge amount of pressure off us while I’m unable to work.

And of course, thank you to every single person who has donated, shared the GoFundMe, sent messages, called or simply checked in on me. Being self-employed and unable to work while I recover and go through treatment has been a massive worry, and the support we’ve received genuinely means more than I can put into words.

For now, my job is pretty simple — recover, get stronger and get myself ready for the next stage of treatment.

One step at a time. I’ll get there.

Thank you again everyone. ❤️

https://gofund.me/c581832c7

22/08/2026

Just a little update from me.

It’s now been just over two weeks since my surgery, and I’m slowly getting there. Recovery is definitely a marathon rather than a sprint, but each day I’m managing a little more and gradually getting used to life with my temporary ileostomy.

The biggest news is that the bowel tumour was successfully removed, which is a huge relief. The next stage will be chemotherapy and treatment for the small spot on my liver. My consultant has confirmed that the treatment is still being given with curative intent, so although there’s still a road ahead, I’m staying positive and taking things one stage at a time.

I’m still going to be off work for quite some time while I recover and go through the next part of treatment, which is why the support from this fundraiser has meant so much to me and my family.

Thank you so much to everyone who has donated, shared the page, sent messages or simply checked in on me. I genuinely appreciate every bit of support.

For now, it’s plenty of rest, getting stronger and preparing myself for the next stage. One step at a time.

Cancer doesn’t discriminate. It steals your time, takes away y… Gary Battison needs your support for Support Phil Reeve’s Family in His Fight Against Cancer