Colleagues donate sick days to teacher fighting cancer after his run out

A Florida public school teacher who was undergoing surgery and chemotherapy for colon cancer was in need of just 20 extra sick days to complete his treatment.

Robert Goodman, who is a history teacher at Palm Beach Gardens Community High School, had already used up all his 38 allocated sick days from his job, so he reached out to his friends and followers on Facebook for help.

The post soon went viral and was shared more than 2,000 times. Miraculously, within four days, the 56 year had been donated enough sick days to cover an entire semester.

Altogether, thanks to fellow teachers, staff members, administrators and lunchroom workers who contribute to the Flordia retirement system, Goodman was left with 75 sick days.

Speaking to CNN, Robert said:

I couldn't believe it happened so fast.

Educators all over the country were reaching out to me to donate their sick days, even professors over at Florida Atlantic University.

I felt guilty because I knew there were people who had it much worse than me.

Robert has worked at the school for the past 23 years but was told in April that he had stage 3 colon cancer.

After learning the news, Goodman began documenting his progress on Facebook but he was not expecting the outpouring of support he received when he made his request.

He added:

It was the easiest way to let people know how I was feeling and at the same time inspire people who were going through something similar.

I wasn't surprised that teachers were giving. Teachers are always giving all the time. When one of their own needs help they'll always step up.

Classes at Robert's school began again on 13 August, but he is still undergoing his treatment.

However, he is eager to get back and is using his hobby as a singer-songwriter to inspire others before he gets back to teaching.

Speaking to Indy100 Robert said:

It is truly amazing and humbling that so many in a short period of time helped me out.

I have always believed in love and have made it my mission to give it and teach its power in my classroom and in the music I write.

If you are interested in please visit his Soundcloud page.

HT CNN

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