Celebrity cooks are whipping up support for TV chef Tim Bilton, who has months to live.
The outpouring of love from the likes of Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver is helping raise funds for Tim, 47, who was struck down with skin cancer.
Their warm messages came after fellow chef Jean-Christophe Novelli told them about the “truly brave and inspiring” former Great British Menu star.
Despite his diagnosis and tough treatment, Tim still works as head chef at Cannon Hall Farm in Barnsley.
Among the other culinary legends sending their love to Tim are Mary Berry, Delia Smith and Gino D’Acampo.
Tim was diagnosed with a rare melanoma in his left eye in 2013, just before he started his own restaurant The Spiced Pear in Holmfirth, West Yorks.
He said: “I had the cancer cut out of my eye and chemotherapy injections into my eyeball.”
Tim, who also had radiotherapy to his eye, thought he had beaten the cancer but in August 2015 a lump on the side of the face confirmed it was back.
He had major surgery to his head and neck to remove his salivary glands and some lymph nodes, robbing him of his sense of taste. He said: “For a chef it was the worst possible thing to happen, to not be able to taste was devastating.
“Before this happened, I was on TV and heading towards my first Michelin star and nothing could stop me.”
Tim’s weight dropped from 17.5st to 9st during treatment which left him with awful mouth ulcers, unable to swallow or eat. He said: “I went to a dark place, hiding myself away during this bout of cancer. It was awful.” But Tim fought back and got on with his life.
In January he began to feel pain in his leg and was struggling to walk and sleep. Two months later his oncologist told him his cancer was back and was in his bones and a gland above his kidney and was at stage 4 and incurable.
He was given 12 months to live. He said: “I just felt empty but I felt worse for my wife Adele and the boys, Charlie and Henry.
“Coming to terms with the fact that you won’t see your boys grow up was the hardest thing.” But unlike last time he has a positive mindset, has started a blog, On a Knife Edge, and begun immunotherapy hoping to give himself more quality time with his family.
Tim said: “I’ve come to terms with my own death and I have decided that I want my time left to be filled with joy. I want to still work while I can and provide for my family as a chef that has been very important.”
He told his boys, who are seven and 13, the terrible news straight away. Tim believes people need to be able to talk about death more. He said: “I have peace around my death and I have a heightened feeling of senses like I’m going into a new sphere. I get goosebumps from wind blowing or a bird or a sunrise. I celebrate that I am alive today.”
He is planning a trip to New York, where he and Adele honeymooned. His boys will also lead out his beloved Leeds United. Last week he achieved his dream of visiting Gordon Ramsay’s new Lucky Cat restaurant after the chef invited him.
Adele, 37, said: “It’s been hard for us accepting that Tim won’t get better but his attitude this time is inspiring.
“The fact that despite going through treatment he still gets out of bed to provide for his family, he is an amazing father and husband and I’m so proud of him.” A friend initially set up a Go Fund Me page to raise cash to help make life easier for the family and to help them make memories. That raised £12,000.
Jean-Christophe Novelli, whose son Valentino suffered cancer, offered to help Tim raise funds and held an event which raised a further £12,000.
He said: “Tim is such an inspiring man I wanted to help and I asked my fellow chefs to support him.”
Tim said: “Such icons as Delia and Raymond getting in touch is amazing. I can’t believe how the community had wrapped itself around me.”
Gordon Ramsay
"My thoughts are with you and all the family. I know you are having a tough time but here’s the positives – what you do on a daily basis, not just what you do for your career but the way you stand by the family and work so hard.
"I can’t wait to meet you. Stay strong this is a long hard service."
Jamie Oliver
"Tim, you are an inspiring young man and I know that life has been throwing
a lot at you lately but you have just kept on cooking which is incredible."
Mary Berry
"Tim, I hear you are a wonderful chef, now you keep fighting really hard and good luck."
Delia Smith
"I’m sending a message of support as I know you are going through a tough time at the moment but just remember that even though your body is playing up it can’t touch your spirit and soul so keep them up."
Ken Hom
"This is a greeting from one chef to another. I know you are a really, good, excellent and fantastic chef and you’ve been extremely brave and I wanted to wish you and your family the best and you have my support. Bravo to you."
Michael Caines
"Tim, all the best, my sincere respect to you and I wish you all the best in these challenging times. Please don’t give up, keep pushing.
All of the chefs in the UK are behind you and I give you this sincere
message to say I hope to catch up with you soon and together we can
have a drink to toast your achievements."
Gino D'Acampo
"Sending a very big kiss to you and all your family. Keep strong, my man, it’s very important to do that. I’m thinking of you."
Rosemary Shrager
"Have a lovely evening, Tim, with your family. Lots of love and hope to see you soon."
Hairy Bikers
"Greetings from the Peak District. Sending lots of love and huge respect to you. Any chance you want to come on a bike?"
Rick Stein
JC has told me that you haven’t been well but you are continuing to work. That is an inspiration to us all.
Tom Kerridge
"Tom Kerridge here. Just sending you a message to put a bit of cheer
and heart hopefully in your soul, keep pushing on my friend, like all good chefs battle on, get through service and we will see you at the end mate."
Raymond Blanc
"I know you are going through a tough time and all my team at the Manoir wish you all the best and are all support- ing you. Be strong Love you."
Gary Rhodes
"Chef Jean-Christophe has told me all about you, not only as a very talented chef, husband and father but also the very sad news of your illness.
"After hearing this news, Tim I just want you to know my thoughts are with you and your family and I just wish I had the great pleasure of meeting you. Here’s sending lots of love to you and your family from me."
Simon Rimmer
"Stay strong, stay believing, biggest love."
Giorgio Locatelli
"Hi Tim, We have heard you are going through a really rough time and also heard you have been a great inspiration to all of us for your constant idea to go into the kitchen and work and look after your family, from all of us at Locanda Locatelli."
Give to Tim’s fund here .
