At first glance, Tony, may seem like just another friendly face at Lions Befrienders. But spend some time with him, and you’ll see the quiet strength beneath his calm demeanor—a resilience forged by love, loss, and the simple joy of nurturing life.
These days, Tony can often be found with his hands in the soil, tending to community gardens or teaching seniors how to pot plants during Lions Befrienders’ Dementia Programmes. His eyes light up when sharing gardening tips. “It’s like life,” he reflects. “You plant, you wait, you care—even when you can’t see the growth yet.”
Tony’s journey with Lions Befrienders began three years ago, when a roadshow at the market caught his attention. The idea of companionship attracted, especially during one of the hardest times of his life. He had just lost his wife to liver cancer after being her primary caregiver for three years—cooking, cleaning, and staying by her side as her health deteriorated. Their life together was built on simple joys—shared meals, familiar routines, the comfort of knowing someone was always there. When she passed, the house felt unbearably empty. But in his miniature pinscher dog, Pin, he found solace. “Pin kept me company,” Tony says with a smile.
In the months after her passing, he didn’t think much about his own health. It was his daughter who urged him to go for a check-up, reminding him that it had been a long time since his last screening.
That was when he found out he had stage 4 prostate cancer.
Was he shocked? Not quite.
“I just accepted it,” he says simply. “You get cancer, you treat it. No point being angry.”
He underwent radiation treatment for nearly two years, traveling alone to and from the hospital. “At first, my son would take me, but after a while, I told him, ‘No need. I know the way.’” He laughs, recalling how he navigated public transport to his treatments with the same calmness as running an errand.
Even in his toughest moments, Tony never indulged in self-pity. “It’s just life,” he shrugs. “Things happen. You deal with it.”
Instead, he focused on what he could do. He didn’t go searching for grand answers or dramatic reinventions—just small, steady ways to keep going. He continued with his activities in the local community, though he had to swap Zumba for volunteering due to his physical condition. Making new friends had always been part of his rhythm, and sickness didn’t stop that. If anything, it deepened the compassion in his interactions—whether over coffee, a shared laugh, or simply the familiar presence of others around him. In his own way, he carried on—one day at a time, with the people (and his little dog, Pin) making the journey a little lighter.
A Friendship Formed Through Service
One of the most unexpected yet rewarding friendships Tony formed through Lions Befrienders was with Mr. Leong. They met while volunteering for the Dementia Programme. What started as casual chats soon blossomed into a solid friendship.
“We didn’t plan to be close friends,” Tony recalls, chuckling. “It just happened. After volunteering, we’d walk to the MRT together, chat about life, and somehow, we just clicked.”
Their camaraderie brightened every room they entered. Mr. Leong’s easy charm and Tony’s warm humor complemented each other, creating a welcoming atmosphere wherever they went. Their ability to lift spirits—through lighthearted banter, shared laughter, or simply being present—made their visits to seniors feel like catching up with old friends.
