Richard Schiller’s trip to Vancouver went from dream vacation to utter nightmare. On Monday, August 17th, while on the plane, he began experiencing pain in his groin which became extreme enough that, as soon as he touched down, he rushed to the hospital. After 12 long hours of waiting, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. 24 hours later, on Tuesday, August 18th, Richard flew home.

Richard has a 3.5 cm tumour found on his right testicle. A tumour this size falls into the T2 category: moderately-sized tumors like this require immediate intensive intervention. Luckily, he was able to get his surgery scheduled for Monday, August 24th to remove the tumor along with his right testicle and the oncology clinic at the Montreal Jewish General Hospital.

There’s so much that’s unknown right now. We do not know whether the cancer has spread and how aggressive it is. Richard has to carry that uncertainty until the tumour is removed and doctors can biopsy and investigate. His surgery on Monday marks the beginning of a long road to recovery that could include chemotherapy and radiation.

Richard is a vital member and a bright light in our community. He is grateful to be a part of such a strong and caring circle, one where his friends consistently show up for each other and often. Richard has spent years showing up for others – emotionally and monetarily – giving support and a listening ear to anyone in need. He puts his own needs last and has given so much of himself to the people around him.

Richard is completing a Masters in counselling psychology. His income comes primarily from his work in nightlife; the rest comes from his work as a real estate broker. Both of his income sources will be put on hold for at least the next few months, and likely longer, while he focuses on recovery. But life doesn't pause. He has school costs, rent, and licensing fees to keep up with, all while facing surgery, pain, and the physical and emotional toll of cancer treatment. Right now, Richard is scared, and he is unsure about how he’ll manage it all.

This GoFundMe is here so Richard doesn’t have to carry the financial burden alone. Any support – a donation, a share, a kind word – would mean the world. If you're not able to donate, sharing this with someone who might is just as valuable. Every bit of support helps. Richard has spent so long showing up for this community. Please help us show up for him. Now, he needs us to give some of that back. We’re hoping to raise $40,000 to help him get through this and the uncertain cancer journey that will come next.

What Richard Needs Help Covering:

Monthly Living Costs

Rent (incl. hydro + internet): $1,850.00

Food: $600.00

Phone: $75.00

APCIQ fee: $104.64

Real Estate Firm Fees: $402.50

Monthly Total: $3,032.14

One-time/ Annual Costs

OACIQ licence fee (annual): $2,556.56

QPAREB fee (annual): $883.19

University tuition: $3,090.00

Back-owed Real Estate Firm Fees (4 months): $1,610.00

Total: $8,139.75

The $40,000, once his one-time costs are paid off, would help cover a little over 10 months of expenses: enough for him to focus on healing instead of worrying about rent, tuition, or losing his licence to work. Every contribution, big or small, brings him closer to this goal.

Thank you all for being there for him in this confusing and painful time. We will do our best to provide updates going forward. We love you all.