Battling Cancer, Finding Hope in Disc Golf

David Landers' email to our team in February sparked an incredible story that would touch hearts across the disc golf community. The email shared with us the journey of Thom Shearer, a musician diagnosed with stage 3 esophageal cancer on November 7th, 2019, and later with brain cancer on December 31st, 2020.

Thom's health struggles led to significant weight loss, from over 300 pounds in 2019. Amidst the challenges of treatment, he found solace in disc golf. David Landers took Thom out on the course, where they formed a special bond. As Thom's health allowed, he continued to play, and disc golf became an essential escape for him.

Thom's love for music is deeply rooted in his past; he taught drums as a high school percussion coach for years. His passion for music has been a constant companion throughout his life. After suffering a series of losses due to the pandemic, including the cancellation of teaching music and losing weight, Thom found a new sense of purpose in disc golf.

The sport not only provided an outlet for physical activity but also gave Thom a mental reprieve from his medical struggles. "It gets me out of the house every day," he explained, "and it gives me the opportunity when I'm out playing to not think about all the medical problems and what may come." For Thom, disc golf became a Zen-like experience.

In an emotional video interview (available below), Thom shares his story with raw honesty. He highlights the importance of community support in growing the sport, stressing the need for players to respect their surroundings by picking up trash and being mindful of their actions on the course.

Thom's remarkable journey took another turn when he participated in a PDGA C-tier event at Dairy Creek DGC in San Luis Obispo. In an astonishing upset, Thom emerged as the winner, covering over 29,000 steps during the two rounds. His victory was met with immense pride and gratitude for the gift of life.

Thom's message to the disc golf community is one of hope and resilience: "I think everyone is doing a great job of growing the sport...and if you do have brain cancer, don't bump your head on the tree branches." We would like to thank Thom for sharing his inspiring story and for being an active member of the PDGA. You can follow Thom's journey on Instagram.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/member-spotlight-thom-shearer-154152