It’s not a case of winning as the award is for those who produced the documentary not the subject as such. So it wasn’t possible for Rob to win it.
His victory was that it got made in the first place and that he as a person and not just a name touched people.
Nor is it the disease, one that is well known and has taken far more high profile victims than Rob.
For me the documentary showed that no matter how decent you are, how fit you are and how young you are life is not fair, it’s random and brutal. You’re either lucky or your not when it comes to staying alive. Robs humble demeanour allied to his considerable achievements underlined that. The actual illness was irrelevant, it was the way Rob and his family reacted that made for a great story.
On a wider scale it never fails to amaze me that it takes the story of a relatively famous person to make people think. Truth is the are thousands of Robs with hundreds of similar problems but we all manage to ignore them. Truth is if we all gave up one holiday a year and gave the money to Cancer research the cure would arrive in a matter of a few years. We won’t. I won’t. The illness is awful but so are we but I suppose it’s how we survive.
I’m not preaching, it’s just sad that we need a Rob to make us think when there is probably another Rob at the bottom of the street.
On an even wider note in the end imho we get the health care we deserve and it’s not great at times. My mother is coming to the end as is my dog Ella. No guesses for which one is receiving top notch care and which one is being neglected!
So let’s spare a thought for all the Robs out there who are facing their final days or losing any quality of life they once had. If films like this do nothing else let’s hope they keep people trying to find cures and let’s hope they do before it’s our turn.
Great effort Rob and family and a great effort to those who made the film, you won the moment it was aired.
