RUN4BLAKE

* Update. Tragically, Blake passed away on the 15/10/25

*Update 22/09/25 - Unfortunately the cancer is spreading rapidly. We have been told Blake has weeks left. Tumors are taking over the liver and sending Blake into liver failure. Absolutely devastated.

*Edit to add the latest update as of the 29/08/25 - Blake’s cancer has spread to both hips, spine, rib (he currently has a broken rib because the tumour weakened it so much), liver, lymph nodes and other regions. Blake is currently part of a trial immunotherapy which he started 10 days ago.

On Friday the 19th September I will be running 100km for Blake with my good friend and coach, Rob, to raise money for Blake. 4 peaks, over 100km, nearly 4000m elevation

In July 2024, tragedy struck for the Richardson family. Blake was rushed to hospital in severe pain with a CT scan revealing a tumour 11cm in size attached to his kidney. In August Blake underwent a total nephrectomy where they removed his tumour as well as the affected kidney with clear margins. Blake was so strong and an absolute trooper with the horrible, very painful recovery process and was up and trying to walk the very next day.

Pathology of the tumour found it to be a rare and aggressive type of carcinoma that does not often respond to treatment (chromophobe renal cell carcinoma with 20% differentiation).

At the follow up scan in December, Blake received devastating news, the cancer had returned and spread to his hip bone, shoulder and had metastasis into some lymph nodes. Blake has received palliative radiation therapy to his hip and waited to see if he was eligible for any trials and studies but due to the lack of information and unsuccessful treatment responses, as well as him being type 1 diabetic, there was nothing available. Blake started chemotherapy tablets to see if it could slow the spread of the cancer.

Unfortunately Blake’s body did not take kindly to the chemotherapy and he became mostly bed ridden with the chemo causing debilitating pain and sickness, blisters on his hands and feet, severely inflamed stomach and oesophagus meaning it was nearly impossible to eat and also resulted in a very inflamed liver. Due to the lack of life quality on the full strength chemo tablets, Blake is now on the lowest dose and wants to make the most of the time he has left with his beautiful daughter. He is still pushing through the pain every day and back working full time.

In light of all of this, I have decided to run a 100km trail run with 100km of brutal trail with around 4000m elevation over 4 mountains to try and raise some money for Blake to be able to go on holidays with his daughter, take some time off work or help with potential treatment costs, scans etc (immunotherapy is not cheap). We are not one to ask for help or handouts or charity, but if you would like to sponsor my 4 peak run, ALL proceeds will go to Blake and towards helping Blake enjoy the time he has left with his little girl and any medical costs. Anything is greatly appreciated, even your thoughts or prayers.