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Hi everyone, for those of you who followed the Steve Ovett – Kokoda Trek, you will be shocked today to learn that Richard passed away Monday 2nd November following an 8 year battle that took his life.
Message received from Steve Ovett earlier this afternoon.
Gail,
Just to let you know the sad news that Richard passed away today. He did not suffer and was with his family.
Steve
richard400.jpgAlthough I have never met Richard, it feels like I knew him really well.
Earlier this year I was contacted by Richard in connection with the 'Bloomhill Cancer Care Help Centre. Richard informed me he was trying to raise money for the centre and asked for details and a reference of someone who used our services in relation to the Kokoda Trek.
At no time was Steve Ovett's name mentioned only the desire to raise money for Bloomhill.
He phoned up and spoke to one of our trekkers, Geoff Trott in Melbourne and decided to book with us. Training was soon in full swing and we emailed back and forth about every possible scenario regarding the trail. It was sometime later that he dropped the name Ovett on my lap and I thought what a lovely friend he had; someone who shared his dream of raising money for cancer care.
I was soon to learn that he had three great mates and a very supportive brother in John. They knew how much Richard really wanted to walk the trail so they joined him and shared his dream.
Many emails flowed between us and I could tell Richard wanted to leave nothing uncovered….we talked shoes….food….radio…satellite phone….backpacks…security for Steve…..function for Steve in Port Moresby and much much more!
A short while later the bloomhill cancer care centre website was launched –
http://www.bloomhill.com.au and fundraising began.We continued to email back and forth and Richard, his brother John, Steve and two other friends, Ross Eason (a professional photographer) and Geoff Campbell -owner of Raw Energy Restaurant on the Sunshine Coast trained really hard.
Suddenly there was a period when I had not heard from him for a couple of weeks but seeing everything was by then organised, I did not think much about it except that Richard must be working hard on the fundraising.
I then received my first shock….an email from John saying Richard was in hospital and that his cancer had returned more aggressive than before. He went on to say that Richard had finally realised that he could not come to PNG to walk the trail and that John and the others had decided to come anyway and fulfill his dream.
The Bloomhill team came, they conquered, they returned and although I do not have a confirmed figure, I believe over A$100,00 was raised for the Bloomhill Centre.
About a week ago I received an email from Mani his wife saying Richard was ill but I had no idea 'how ill'. I did however receive two emails yesterday, one from Steve and the other from Ross saying Richard was in a serious condition.
To receive this news today, leaves me feeling really sad for his family as he seemed a really nice guy who I will now never get to meet.
Please join me all in wishing his family our sincere condolences.
goodbye my internet friend, I shall truly miss your emails as they were always inspiring and uplifting and there was certainly no gloom and doom from someone who was facing an uphill battle which you lost today.
Gail
group.jpgIf you would like to keep Richard Thompson's dream alive, why not donate by logging onto the following website:
Contact Bloomhill…
Please feel free to contact them for any reason.
If you require their services they have a 24 hour telephone help line:
0438 611 867
Bloomhill Cancer Help is located at:58 Ballinger Road,
Buderim, QLD 4556PO Box 319, Buderim, QLD 4556
Phone (07) 5445 5794
Fax (07) 5445 5438
Dear Mani, John and family,
I was informed by Steve that Richard passed away today and I am shell
shocked as I was really pulling for him. Our sincere condolences to each
and every one of you as I can really feel for you right now. When I sent my
earlier message on Sunday I had no idea he was as sick as he was until Ross
and Steve emailed me back Sunday and Monday and informed me he was was not
travelling that well.As you are all aware I never got to meet Richard but through our many
emails, I could sense he had a great personality and a lot of energy and I
was looking forward to meeting him one day when I was next in Australia. It
also saddens me to think that he will never get to realise his dream of
walking the Kokoda Trail but I guess none of that matters now, because he
has lost his life that he fought so bravely through all the years to hold
onto.He did however realise his other dream of raising funds for the
'Bloomhill Cancer Care Centre' and I am pleased to have been part of that,
in so much that he chose our services to look after the guys and give them a
great time here in PNG. I also owe him a lot as he took a chance on me and
a newly established business with only two treks to our credit when he gave
us the green light.As a family you must be so proud of what he has achieved, and I salute him
for spending his last few months doing something for someone else such as
the Bloomhill cause. A truly great man and I feel so privileged to have met
him on the internet and so sad that I will never get to meet him in person.If there is anything at all I can do, you only have to ask.
sincere regards,
Gail
Editors Note: My tribute to a truly wonderful man who went out of his way to help others. Bloomhill from what I have been told, receives no Government assistance and relies entirely on the generousity of the public and guys like Richard who make a difference.
If not already, please donate to this worthy cause and allow Richard's dream to continue to grow and more people able to benefit from the services they offer.
If you would like to pass on your condolences, please email me and I will pass onto family members. gail@pngbd.com
Bloomhill Cancer Care Help Centre:
bloomhill02.jpgI had been following up on Richard Thomson's story on his braveness to fight the sickness/disease, CANCER he diagnosed for some years. I felt something stucked down my throat when i read about his passing away and slowly felt tears run down my face…..
May his family and the many friends be comforted and strenghtened at this time of lose and seeing what he has started and left behine as a Cancer fighter all this years until his death….
REST IN PEACE RICHARD THOMSON.
Message from Alison Anis our journalist to Ross Eason:
I am deeply saddened by the news of Richard's passing away and am regretting the fact that he has never had a chance to glance through the diary – I was wrong….. it took me so long to complete. Now that he's gone…….I actually feel really bad – that was one last thing I wanted to do for him before anything happened to him.
I have known Richard to be a very strong and cheerful person. I had no idea his time would come so soon, seems I was wrong.
I now write this as a tribute to a truely great and wonderful person, a man we have come to know as a friend and admire. Many will remember Richard for his strength, courage and most of all his great kindness and the love he's shown during his last days by doing something worthwhile for his community. Richard has gone a long way in doing something for the The Bloomhill Cancer Centre – it is probably what it is now because of him.
Though I didn't get the pleasure to meet him in person, I am glad that I have come to know him as a truly wonderful person. I have told thim that it was indeed a privilege to walk in his place along Kokoda Trek. I'm glad I helped him realise his dream by walking.
To Mani, his wife and three children….and to John and Jude …today my thoughts are with you. To have lived and battled cancer for seven years, for Richard is quiet exceptional. I feel the Lord had given him enough time to be with his family members and I'm sure that didn't go unwasted. I know how it feels to lose someone that way…. Just three days after the Kokoda trek I have received news that my aunt (she was very close to me) died of cancer of the cervix at the Port Moresby hospital – she actually died before I went trekking – but I was not informed then….when I knew about it , it was too late….of course they flew the body back home and buried her.
However, I think in more than one way Richard taught us something. From what I hear from the guys, John, Steve, Geoff and you Ross concerning Richard, I have come to see him as a source of strength, someone who wanted you to be happy no matter what, a kind and loving father and brother. Above all I have come to see him as the sort of person who would be willing to give up his life for a good cause, no matter the cost. Not many people possess this traits and that is what makes him a truly wonderful and lovable person. I'm sure he will be remembered in many good ways.
I am sure Richard is happy now that he is free and would want us to be happy too!
He certainly was a brave man.
May God bless his soul & May he rest in peace…….
Please pass my sincere condolences to Mani, John and his family.
Alison Anis
http://www.pngbd.com
http://www.kokodatrai.com.au
Richard_2.jpgI just found out on the website this morning about the death of Richard Thompson.
I felt a sense of loss as I have in my own little way been involved with the Steve Ovett trek.
Regards,
Malum Nalu
Features Writer
South Pacific Post Limited
PO Box 85, Port Moresby
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Website http://www.postcourier.com.pgEditors Note: In Friday's edition of the Post Courier, Alison Anis had a feature about the Kokoda Trail as a tribute to the late Richard Thompson which was published in the 'WeekendExtra'.
Post_Courier.jpgHi mum,
thanks for leting me know about Richard.. pretty sad hey, I hope his family is taking it well but I'm sure they are happier that he has some peace now.. I hope he got to see the mural before he passed away.
love Nathan
Editors Note: Nathan, my son actually got to meet Richard. After I spoke to Richard on the phone at the Wesley Hospital I asked Nathan who lives on the Gold Coast to take up to him in Brisbane, Stuart Hawthorne's new book titled 'Kokoda a History of' ……. Nathan had not long came back from the Kokoda Trail himself so they chatted awhile about Kokoda and what the guys could expect out on the trail.
Just recently we managed to get the Mural we had painted in honour of the Bloomhill Cancer Care Trek Team back in from Kokoda. My husband John took it to the Gold Coast and we sent it by courier up to Richard's residence on the Sunshine Coast. It would have arrived at his home the weekend before he passed away. I have three or four emails on file from Richard worried about the mural and hoping it had not got stolen as a keepsake by someone else.
The banner as seen here at Jackson's Airport whilst waiting for the arrival of the Steve, John, Geoff and Ross – the Bloomhill Cancer Care Help Team.
DCP_0005.jpgHello Gail
Like you I am just so shocked. I went to your website this morning and am devastated to hear that Richard has gone. I only met him once in the office but obviously he was a very special person who will be missed by so many. I suppose I was initially upset that he could not fulfill his dream and walk the trail himself but being the generous person he was he lived it through his brother and friends who travelled on his behalf. I followed the stories and was so pleased the walk went so well as I know the effort Richard had put in.
Please pass on my heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.
Kind regards
Clare Nash
Area Manager – Sth Qld
AIR NIUGINI
GPO Box 2216
BRISBANE. QLD. 4001.Wednesday, 5th November 2003 – Source: Sunshine Coast Daily Newspaper
'He left such footprints on my heart'
Coast mourns death of cancer fundraiserWHEN Richard Thompson was diagnosed with terminal cancer eight years ago, he set out to live every day to the fullest.
By the time he passed away peacefully at his Coolum home on Monday, he had touched the lives of more people than he could have ever dreamt possible.
''He was a bloke who gave something to everybody he met,'' older brother John said of the 45-year-old.
''He was a very positive person and if you met him and walked away without something, then you just weren't listening.
''We've been very lucky to have known him, to have loved him and to have been carried along on the ride with him.'' Mr Thompson made headlines this year when he organised a Kokoda Trail trek to raise funds for the Bloomhill Cancer Centre at Buderim.
A relapse of his cancer forced him to miss the adventure but team member Steve Ovett, the former Olympic and world champion runner, said it was his passion which made the others carry on.
''He was very passionate about things and knew how to get the best out of every day,'' he said.
''He was so bloody insistent ? you couldn't say 'no' to him.
''There's a major gap in our lives now that he's not around.'' Bloomhill Cancer Health Centre founder and director, Margaret Gargan, said that in 20 years working with cancer patients she had never met anyone like Mr Thompson.
''He left such enormous footprints on my heart,'' she said.
''He taught us how to live and he taught us how to die.'' Mr Thompson is survived by his wife Mani and children Holly, Lachie and Mia.
A ''celebration of his life'' will be held at Bloomhill at 1pm 6th November, 2003.
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