Richard made a heartfelt promise to Professor Ian Chau, his Consultant Medical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden Hospital and Reader at the Institute of Cancer Research. He pledged that any funds raised in his memory would be donated to support the research within the Upper Gastrointestinal Unit in recognition of the exceptional care, dedication, and compassion shown to him throughout his treatment.

According to Pancreatic Cancer UK, the disease is the fifth biggest cancer killer in the UK with only 3% of the annual UK cancer research budget. Sadly, because diagnosis often occurs at a late stage, only 2 in 10 people are able to receive chemotherapy. The hard fact is that 1 in 4 people diagnosed will die within a month, and 3 in 4 within a year.

Richard defied these statistics thanks to Professor Chau and his team’s unwavering commitment to fighting this cancer. Their dedication to patient care, alongside the vital research they continue to produce, gave Richard more time and hope, and continues to make a difference for so many others facing a pancreatic cancer diagnosis.

After an initial prognosis of an average 3 months survival rate, Richard fought long and hard with mental strength for 21 months alongside Professor Chau's encouraging words. His shared passion for rugby formed a special bond between the two.