Richard was diagnosed with testicular cancer in November 2011, aged 20, during the third year of his MEng degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Sheffield.

He underwent gruelling treatment for 19 months in Sheffield's Weston Park Hospital, never once complaining or feeling sorry for himself, but despite the high cure rate for this type of cancer, he died on 13th June 2013, on the day he would have left university had he been able to complete his degree.

There are no words to describe the despair we felt on losing our wonderful son and Chris and Stephen, their big brother. Richard had everything to live for and the brightest of futures ahead of him, but it was not to be - his cancer was rare and aggressive and had no respect for age or prospects.

In the past, we have raised money for a variety of cancer charities, including the Teenage Cancer Trust, as Richard received such wonderful care in their Sheffield unit.

In 2015, we decided to focus on a new, personal challenge. To raise money for a lasting award in Richard's name - the Richard Pover Endowment Fund. Our current fundraising target is £70,000 and we need your donations to help us support more promising engineering students at the University of Sheffield. Students who, without your help, might not be able to afford to pursue their academic aspirations. 

At present, the endowment provides a scholarship and two awards which are given annually with a presentation at the engineering graduation ceremony. Recipients are given an information sheet about the scholarship, meaning future engineers know about Richard and his story.

With this fund Richard’s name lives on and ensures that he will never be forgotten. Richard’s legacy is able to help bright students pursue their engineering aspirations at Sheffield University, where Richard was so happy.

It feels right to be doing something positive for Richard and we are always thinking of new ways to fundraise, but we do also ask people to donate anyway - to support future generations of engineers from Sheffield.

And to support us, Richard's family, as we learn to live without him. But most of all to ensure that our wonderful, courageous, inspirational son is never forgotten. That is so important to us. Thank you so much.

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