Family and friends raise over £1,800 in memory of Richard Sands

For Antonella Sands, supporting St Luke’s Hospice is a way of thanking the team who helped her husband, Richard Sands, during the final months of his life.

“Richard developed a deeply positive connection with St Luke’s Hospice during the final two months of his illness,” said Antonella.

“At a time when all hope was suddenly taken away from us, St Luke’s represented an oasis of peace and gave him a sense of purpose.”

A keen martial artist, Richard had trained in Tae Kwon Do alongside his children for 16 years and had recently achieved his black belt. While attending St Luke’s, he threw himself into physiotherapy and remained determined to regain his strength.

“He would proudly practise his physiotherapy exercises even when he was not feeling well, hoping to become strong enough to return to his Tae Kwon Do classes,” Antonella said.

Alongside the physical support, Richard and Antonella found space to talk openly about the challenges they were facing.

“We met a few times with Josie before Richard’s physiotherapy sessions. She offered us a safe space to express our worries and navigate the challenges of Richard’s pancreatic cancer.”

Richard was a devoted husband, loving father to three young adults and a much-loved member of the Shadow Warriors gaming community. Following his death in April 2026, family and friends came together to celebrate his life and support the charity he had grown to cherish.

Donations made through Richard’s tribute page and funeral collection, together with fundraising at a Shadow Warriors gaming event held in his memory, have raised an incredible £1,826.25 for St Luke’s Hospice.

Remembering Richard, Antonella said: “Richard was a patient, gentle and calm husband and a father to three young adults. He remained resilient, hopeful and deeply positive throughout his entire battle with cancer, and kept his disarming smile until the end.”

Every donation made in Richard’s memory will help St Luke’s continue supporting patients and families across the community, a lasting tribute to a man whose kindness and positivity touched so many people.