From hospital bed to endurance: Nelson man’s bid to fund 12 days of hospice care
When Nelson businessman Gareth Richardson lines up for the country’s toughest endurance race, he’ll be carrying far more than a backpack.
The 45-year-old cancer survivor endured the darkest few months of his life a few years ago.
First, his father died. Weeks later, doctors told him he had cancer. Then he was made redundant.
“I was like, ‘OK, someone’s trying to kick me, but I’m not going to let it happen,’” he said.
He’s been two years in remission, and now Richardson is training to take on the full two-day Kathmandu Coast to Coast alongside 1500 athletes this February.
He has also launched a campaign to raise $150,000 for Nelson Tasman Hospice – enough to fund 12 days of end-of-life care for local families.
The 243km traverse from Kumara Beach to New Brighton includes a 2km run, 50km bike ride, 31km run over Goat Pass, 15km cycle, 70km kayak down the Waimakariri River and a final 70km ride.
In early 2023, Richardson learnt he had stage four stomach cancer and treatment would aim only to prolong life.
Driving home from the hospital, he stopped outside the hospice, which sits directly opposite his house.
“I remember thinking, ‘I’m literally going to end up there,’” he said.
“Something in me just snapped into determination. I refused to accept it. I had a 6-year-old son. I was going to be there for him.”
Further testing revealed the tumours were stage three lymphoma, a blood cancer treatable with chemotherapy alone.
After six rounds of chemo, what struck him most was not the exhaustion but the community that had rallied to support his family through fundraising and cooked meals.
Living opposite the hospice was daily reminder of how short life was. When training became hard, he said he looked across the road.
“People in the hospice don’t get the choice to go for a run. I do,” he said.
“If you’ve got the chance to do something, take it by the scruff of the neck and do it.”
Richardson works full time as a business development manager at 2degrees while running his small business, Kiwi Multisport, and training around family life.
His Givealittle page has climbed to more than $1800 so far, and he is also partnering with local businesses through sponsorship packages that promote their brands during his campaign.
Nelson Tasman Hospice head of supporter engagement Donna Ching-Tregidga said the service supported about 210 patients a month and faced a daily funding shortfall of $12,300.
“A contribution of $150,000 effectively keeps our service running for around 12 days,” she said.
By Nina Hindmarsh, Nelson Mail
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