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Craig Maxwell wants his story, his legacy, and this interview to demonstrate the power of resilience.

Of fighting back. Of not giving up. Of raging against the dying of the light.

As he bravely, openly, and honestly discusses his brutal terminal cancer diagnosis, every word spoken by the chief commercial officer of the Six Nations is as inspiring as it is heartbreaking.

‘I was told at the start of July I have between 10 and 18 months left,’ says Maxwell, who is just 41.

‘I am scared. I’m scared about the things I won’t be able to influence. I am getting all my affairs in order and arranging and paying for my own funeral.

Craig Maxwell with his wife Tracey and their two children – Isla and Zach

Craig Maxwell with his wife Tracey and their two children – Isla and Zach

‘I want everything done so my wife doesn’t have to worry about anything. All she’ll have to do is wake up and worry about herself and the kids.

‘We’re taking them to Disneyland Paris but I’ve got no desire for lots of big trips. I just want to cuddle my kids, watch movies with them on the sofa, and have adult conversations with them about life, what I’ve learned, and what’s important. I’ll tell them it’s going to be OK.

‘I want to set them up for the future even though I won’t be there. That’s my dream. My big driver is I want my kids to see there are a few important things in life.

‘It’s about family and friends.

‘It’s important not to be defeated. When we told my children I had terminal cancer, the first thing my daughter said was “Daddy, I know you’ll do everything to fight this. I’m so proud of you.” It made me the proudest man ever. I want to show our children that even in the face of adversity you can – and will – pick yourself up and make a difference.’

Maxwell – who has been a key figure in northern hemisphere rugby for the last decade – is certainly doing that. Faced with limited time and in a situation where it would be easy to crumble and give up, he is using his unenviable position as a force for good.

Through a series of epic challenges, he is defying illness and attempting to raise £300,000 to support the QuicDNA Project which aims to shorten the time it takes to diagnose lung cancer in patients in Wales. He has already raised £260,000 by running the London Marathon in April and completing a bike ride from Cardiff to Tenby, where he was educated.

Even though his cancer has now grown resistant to Osimertinib – the drug he has been taking since last year – Maxwell will on Monday be part of another bike ride from Cardiff to Paris which aims to raise more much-needed money.

‘You never think you are going to hear the words you have incurable cancer. They were said to me just after two o’clock on September 8 last year,’ Maxwell says.

‘Being 40 at the time with two young children, it’s something you never think will happen. The whole perspective of your life changes.’

Born in Pembrokeshire, Maxwell has had a remarkable career in rugby. In 2004, he approached the Welsh Rugby Union and offered to work for them for free to prove his worth.

He was soon hired and then after a stint with Under Armour, Maxwell returned to the WRU to become their commercial director. He doubled Welsh rugby’s revenues and was at the centre of its corridors of power during one of the organisation’s most successful periods.

In 2020, Maxwell joined the Six Nations but just over a year later, he began to feel unwell.

It was the start of a long, painful and stressful journey which culminated with the worst possible news.

‘My dream was to one day be WRU chief executive,’ Maxwell says. ‘I think I was on the right path before all this but it won’t be happening now.’

It was summer 2021 when Maxwell suspected something was wrong. He felt lethargic and in the months that followed, he was breathless, developed a cough, and had chest pains.

‘I should have gone and got checked out earlier,’ Maxwell says.

‘We are all busy and sometimes neglect small changes in our health. I urge everyone to get checked as soon as possible if they suspect anything is wrong.’

In June 2022, doctors found an eight-centimetre tumour in his left lung but it took 72 days for the official diagnosis to come back as cancer.

The crushing news rocked Maxwell and his family.

‘The double whammy was finding out I had Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) lung cancer which was bad enough but also finding out straight away it was terminal, incurable and inoperable as it had spread to my bones,’ Maxwell says.

Maxwell (centre) and friends after completing a bike ride from Cardiff to Tenby earlier this year

Maxwell (centre) and friends after completing a bike ride from Cardiff to Tenby earlier this year

‘I was on palliative care straight away. My wife Tracey and I had been ushered into quite a tiny room. I’d seen in movies when they tell people they have cancer and they don’t do it in a tiny little broom cupboard. I was thinking it wasn’t bad news because I didn’t think they would do that in a little cupboard on a ward. Unfortunately, I was wrong.’

Approximately 39,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer each year in the UK. Around 15 per cent of those have EGFR mutations which are more common in women than men and in people who have never smoked or have been light smokers.

Maxwell’s life – and that of his nearest and dearest – changed immediately and forever that September day.

He and Tracey have two young children – Isla, 12, and Zach who is eight.

‘The important things are friends and family. Everything else pales into insignificance,’ Maxwell says. ‘My line has always been I want to do this with class. I want to be strong for other people. There have been times where it’s been hard and I haven’t done that.

‘I worry sometimes if I’m not accepting it. I do have moments when I think I’m OK. I also have really dark moments but I know how to deal with them now. I take myself off on the bike.

‘I’m sure people have seen me cycling or running round Penarth crying! When I am training I feel like I’m beating cancer and I say to myself that it picked the wrong body when it picked on me. But it will win its battles more in the future and that will be a real test of me staying strong.’

As we talk over what was supposed to be lunch in Penarth just outside Cardiff, it becomes apparent our order has been forgotten. Something which might have previously been a cause of irritation or frustration now matters little to Maxwell. There are far more important matters.

‘It’s our nine-year wedding anniversary today,’ Maxwell reveals when we meet. ‘Tracey and I decided not to celebrate it as I don’t want this to be our last.

‘Our aim is to celebrate 10 years next year. Our relationship has never been stronger. Telling the children was absolutely horrific. It ripped my heart out.

‘I don’t think any parent should ever have to do that. Our children don’t deserve the pain that’s going to come with this. It’s unfair.’

Before we start this interview, Maxwell reiterates he wants to speak openly and honestly about his cancer experience – however painful it proves – in a bid to help others.

Nothing is off the table. Tough questions are asked.

For the last eight months or so, Osimertinib has allowed Maxwell to continue to work for the Six Nations, live a normal life with his family, and undertake some heroic fundraising challenges.

The cruelty of lung cancer – known as the ‘silent killer’ – is that it does untold damage below the surface.

Symptoms can be few and far between and then all of a sudden, it’s too late.

Maxwell does not look ill. In recent months, he has led on the signing off of significant new Six Nations broadcast and commercial deals. He has always worked hard.

But now, with his cancer growing resistant to the drugs, he will step back from rugby in the coming weeks to spend more time with Tracey, Isla and Zach.

Maxwell will begin chemotherapy treatment in August. He hopes contributing to the QuicDNA Project will be his biggest legacy.

‘It took 72 days with loads of biopsies, tests and trips to hospital to work out my illness,’ Maxwell explains. ‘Those 72 days were the hardest. My mental health was gone completely.

‘The uncertainty was the worst thing. The QuicDNA Project is a pilot which uses blood tests or liquid biopsies instead of needle biopsies to help detect incurable cancer earlier.

‘There has already been millions of pounds raised to support it and we want to prove it works.

Maxwell ran the 2023 London Marathon as part of his incredible fundraising to support cancer treatment in Wales

Maxwell ran the 2023 London Marathon as part of his incredible fundraising to support cancer treatment in Wales

‘Lung cancer is the biggest killer in Wales. It kills more than the next two cancers combined. The average wait to get a needle biopsy test is 62 days. Within that time, a lot of patients get very ill which means they don’t respond to certain treatments. In some cases, they pass away.

‘Dropping that time from 62 days to hopefully 30 will make a massive difference in terms of length of life and treatments patients can receive.

‘The pilot is underway and this funding helps deliver it. If the doctors can prove it works, then in time it can be rolled out across all of Wales. The way I’m built is I want to have a purpose.

‘After going through what I have, I wanted to help.’

Maxwell will not only leave a legacy in rugby, but hopefully one in the healthcare system too.

At the WRU, he was the commercial linchpin as the men’s national side won Six Nations titles in 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2019 under Warren Gatland.

Maxwell led on numerous major contracts including bringing Under Armour to Wales and the naming rights deal for what is now Principality Stadium. At the Six Nations, he secured a first title sponsor for the women’s tournament when TikTok came on board. At a tricky time for rugby, Maxwell is optimistic about its future.

He sat on the WRU executive board at 27 and is hugely passionate about the game in his country. ‘I’ve made friends for life in rugby and that’s been the biggest success of my career. When I had this terrible news, I felt the arms of rugby wrapped around me. It lifted me and my family up,’ he adds.

‘Every single union, partner, broadcaster and sponsor has been amazing. I’ve been overwhelmed with the support I’ve had. That’s paled my professional achievements into insignificance.

‘It’s about the friends I’ve made and the relationships I’ve built.

‘That’s what I’ll take away from rugby. It’s been overwhelming. People talk about rugby values and some say they’re under threat but as a person who has needed help from the game, I can tell you the sport has been amazing in supporting me and my family.

‘The WRU and Six Nations especially have done all they can. I know the rugby family will be there to look after mine when I’m gone too. It’s amazing what rugby can do.

‘When the chips are down, people come forward.’

As ‘lunch’ comes to an end, Maxwell is asked if he has anything else to add.

Maxwell’s inspirational story is one of true resilience

Maxwell’s inspirational story is one of true resilience

He points out the liquid biopsy machines which test for cancer cost £1million each. He reiterates the need for the general public to donate to cancer charities. Maxwell adds that the forgotten order is no problem as it only helps to bring forward a planned afternoon with his family.

‘They’ve said they might name one of the machines “Maxwell” in the future,’ he says with a smile.

‘I want to be remembered for what I did in life and I think that’s pretty cool.’

To donate to Craig Maxwell’s funding for The QuicDNA Project and Velindre Cancer Centre, visit: https://craigmaxwell-quicdna.justgiving-sites.com

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This post first appeared on Daily mail