Raise funds for Sick Kids Galway charity, in memory of Ben

I deeply appreciate you taking a moment to read this. As family and friends, we're setting up this fundraiser to help our dear brother, son and father, Benjamin Richardson, who has been diagnosed with stage 4 squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. This has been upsetting to say the least, it is the third time he has had cancer and treatments in conventional medicine are not an option, so there is a hill to climb, but we do have hope for him.

 Benjamin is 48 years old from Galway, a loving father who remains close with his now grown daughter. He has worked with food since the early age of 13, becoming a top-level chef in his 20's which he eventually gave up the busy

hours in the industry to help bring up his daughter, taking up a permanent position as a product builder in Boston Scientific in 2006, with the intention of securing a mortgage for a family home. He continued to work with food as is

his passion and he has such a talent for it, enhancing family and friends’ occasions, and he also found other niches in which to contribute his knowledge and experience. 

 After much pain in 2008, he was diagnosed with late stage 4 squamous cell carcinoma in his tonsil which went through to his lymphatic system, this usually is common in older men, Ben was just 32. He was given aggressive

chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments, which he prepared his system nutritionally beforehand to withstand the treatments. He got through it with damaged saliva glands as a result, making eating and swallowing difficult. He dedicated his time into recovering and also helped others going through their own difficult diagnoses.

In time he went back to work and successfully secured

a mortgage.

 Years in remission, not forgotten, he thought this tough time was well behind him now and we thought that it was over. In 2020 at the time of lockdown, it was devastating when he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in his tongue. He

agreed to surgery and 2/3 of his tongue was removed, complications meant him having two surgeries in as many days, this was a hugely traumatic experience for him. Now he can no longer eat food and is fed through a peg in

his stomach, his whole relationship with food was challenged and this was devastating. The physiology of his throat and tongue makes it difficult to pronounce some words and sounds, causing some people to mistake him as

having an intellectual disability. His life has changed in a big way. Over the past couple of years, he has made great strides in healing, psychologically, emotionally and physically from this and he has remained remarkably resilient throughout.

 With all that Ben has faced, nothing can break his spirit and he faces this third cancer with humbling acceptance, curiosity and dignity. Everything he does he puts his all into, and this includes his presence, active collaboration in his

treatment and healing in the previous bouts of cancer to this current one. Applying the protocols used in successful healing modalities he studied over the years, he has helped reduce the growth of the tumours, he has gained

some weight too and this is very hopeful. 

 He knows he cannot do this alone and we are presently in communication with a cancer treatment clinic in Germany which has many options in treatments from nutritional to immunotherapy. We are gathering together his histology and scans to send, and then we'll book a phone consultation to see what will be best for him.

 We need to raise enough funds for the treatment(s) and travelling costs for him and a companion as he will also need help with communication and some support and there is talk on possible reconstructive surgery for his teeth and jaw which were weakened in all previous treatments.

This has been tough for all of us, and we are going through many emotions, grief and moments of uncertainty. His

Daughter takes times off work and is consistently there for him, we are all there with him and give him all our support with anything he needs. Ben is a loving, nurturing father, brother and friend. He is a kind and generous soul, creative, funny, smart, caring, helpful, encouraging and always uplifting others. Ben knows in his heart he can get

through this, and his focus is to heal and use his experience and knowledge to help others. He has so much to give and to live for and it would mean so much for him to have that chance to avail of this treatment that can give him the

best chance in making this possible.

Whatever amount you are able to contribute we greatly appreciate, and if you're unable to donate I ask if you can

share this with friends, family or anyone you feel might be able to donate and/or share. This can really help

change Benjamin's life all around and for the better.

With much gratitude, thank you.