By Stan Olenik, Editor-Publisher The Golf Club

In Upstate South Carolina Robbie Biershenk and golf are synonymous. If a course is hosting a tournament there is a good chance Biershenk is playing and probably is on the leader board.

The popular amateur from Boiling Springs is a long driving, hard charging competitor on the local golf scene and part of a family of golfers who have been winning tournaments for generations.

He has faced challenging moments on golf courses, but the challenge he is facing today is unlike any that needs a score card to track.

Robbie Biershenk has found out there is something more nerve racking than a 12 foot putt to win a golf tournament.

A month or so ago, Biershenk found out he was suffering from T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

It is a rare blood cancer.

After feeling a little “off” Biershenk was playing golf in a member-guest tournament when he bent down to fix a ball mark.

“It was something I’ve done a million times, but when I stood back up I felt dizzy,” Biershenk recalled. “I had been feeling a little “off,” but I thought it was my blood pressure medicine,” he said.

At the insistence of his brother Nick, Robbie made the trip to Nick’s doctor and was quickly referred to the Gibbs Cancer Center.

“I went and they did some tests. After they finished I was on my way to play with Nicky when they called and told me to get back there right away. I knew it wasn’t good,” he said.

When he was told he had cancer as most everyone would, Biershenk wanted a second opinion.

His wife, Jessica got on Facebook and asked for suggestions on where to go to get that opinion. The M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston received the most recommendations.

The Biershenks went to Houston and the doctors checked Robbie out. They immediately gave him a major blood transfusion.

“I asked them if Superman had given them blood because after I got it I felt like Superman,” he said.

It was nothing super, just the first step in what Biershenk says will be an eight month stay in Houston to be treated for the cancer. Biershenk was not prepared to stay for any length of time. He had only a couple of change of clothes with him.

The effect of the chemo therapy has caused the upstate golfer to lose his hair, but not his desire to play golf.

“I reach up to scratch my head and a big clump of hair fell out. I got a shaver and took off the rest,” he said.

Besides shaving his head, Biershenk found a way to get a putting mat put in his room and now has putting contests with the staff.

Like anyone who is in reasonably good health and gets a cancer diagnosis, Biershenk is baffled how he became ill.

“I’ve had some time and been on the internet and I saw some things that could cause cancer like Benzene. It has been is used at golf courses and in the janitorial business for years. I’ve asked the doctors, but they don’t say much, but you look it up on the internet and it says it can cause the cancer I have,” he offered.

There haven’t been many stretches of time in his 47 years when he has not been on a golf course for this long a period of time.

“I miss playing, but not as much as I miss seeing my wife and little girls. The hardest part of this isn’t the chemo its being away form my kids,” he said.

When eight year old Blakely and 3 year old Raelynn want to know why their daddy isn’t home. It leaves Biershenk sometimes at a loss for words, and anyone who knows him, knows that does not happen often,

The first two waves of treatment have been completed and Biershenk got some good news on two fronts.

First, the doctors at MD Anderson have told him he can be cured, but it will take some time to make sure he is cancer free. The doctors have said around three years of treatment is needed.

The other bit of good news is Biershenk got to come home for a few days before returning for further treatment.

“The Doctors ain’t crazy about me leaving here, but they understand and I’m glad they are letting me go home for awhile. I have to be careful because they are worried about picking up an infection,” said Biershenk.

As you might expect Biershenk was hoping to get on a golf course. He did, but just to watch.

“I had no legs, no strength. I just watched. I can’t ever remember just watching somebody else play, but it was still good to get our and ride around in a cart,” he said.

Family and friends have started a Go Fund Me Page for Biershenk. He believes his insurance is pretty good, but an eight month stay in Houston is going to be expensive.

The path to being cancer free and returning to his old life is off in the future, but Biershenk is using some of his quiet time to think about how his battle with cancer could be a rallying point for others who have the illness or want to help end it.

“I want to make sure whatever I do from now on I do to help people who have cancer. Especially the kids, but that is in the future. Right now I’ve got to keep getting better and get rid of this cancer and get back home,” concluded Biershenk.