An epic 780-mile fundraising walk along the stunning Wales Coastal Path drew to a close at the iconic venue when Craig Maxwell, accompanied by his wife and two children, carried the match ball onto the pitch.
In September 2022, Six Nations Rugby Chief Commercial Officer Craig, aged just 40, received earth-shattering news: a diagnosis of incurable and inoperable EGFR lung and bone cancer. In the face of cruel adversity, Craig – who played a pivotal role at the Welsh Rugby Union prior to joining Six Nations Rugby – and his loved ones have been determined to channel all their energies into making a difference.
In the spirit of turning adversity into advocacy, the Maxwell Family Genomics Fund was founded. Their mission is to enhance, improve and develop the cancer pathway in Wales to make a lasting difference in the lives of cancer patients and their families in the nation.
Craig’s story has touched the hearts of many, rallying support that surpassed all expectations. From the initial goal of £300,000, the generosity and compassion of people from all walks of life have propelled the fundraising beyond a staggering £1 million.
The latest in Craig’s many fundraising endeavour was a 26-day challenge along Wales’ beautiful coastline, starting on Wednesday 14th February. Twenty-six days were chosen to mirror the QuicDNA project’s goal of reducing diagnosis time. The 780 miles represent the 78 days it took Craig to receive his diagnosis from the point of finding his tumour.
The match ball, which had been carried the entire distance of the challenge, symbolises the collective fight against cancer. A host of famous faces from the rugby and media world joined various legs of the walk, while villages along the coastal journey came out in force to support the walkers’ endeavours.
There was no more fitting denouement to Craig’s fantastic fundraising campaign than the match ball presentation from the Maxwell family at Principality Stadium, the home of Welsh rugby.
Visit maxwell.foundation to find out more, including how to donate to the cause.
