Six Nations chief commercial officer Craig Maxwell has been a key figure in rugby’s corridors of power… now, after receiving a brutal terminal lung cancer diagnosis, he’s on a mission to inspire others and raise thousands for charity

Craig Maxwell needs his story, his legacy, and this interview to display the ability of resilience.

Of combating again. Of not giving up. Of raging in opposition to the dying of the sunshine.

As he bravely, brazenly, and actually discusses his brutal terminal cancer prognosis, each phrase spoken by the chief industrial officer of the Six Nations is as inspiring as it’s heartbreaking.

‘I used to be advised initially of July I’ve between 10 and 18 months left,’ says Maxwell, who’s simply 41.

‘I’m scared. I’m scared concerning the issues I received’t be capable to affect. I get all my affairs so as and arranging and paying for my very own funeral.

‘I would like all the things accomplished so my spouse doesn’t have to fret about something. All she’ll should do is get up and fear about herself and the youngsters.

‘We’re taking them to Disneyland Paris however I’ve obtained no need for plenty of massive journeys. I simply wish to cuddle my youngsters, watch motion pictures with them on the couch, and have grownup conversations with them about life, what I’ve discovered, and what’s necessary. I’ll inform them it’s going to be OK.

‘I wish to set them up for the long run regardless that I received’t be there. That’s my dream. My massive driver is I would like my youngsters to see there are a number of necessary issues in life.

‘It’s about household and mates.

‘It’s necessary to not be defeated. Once we advised my youngsters I had terminal most cancers, the very first thing my daughter stated was “Daddy, I do know you’ll do all the things to struggle this. I’m so pleased with you.” It made me the proudest man ever. I wish to present our kids that even within the face of adversity you’ll be able to – and can – choose your self up and make a distinction.’

Maxwell – who has been a key determine in northern hemisphere rugby for the final decade – is definitely doing that. Confronted with restricted time and in a state of affairs the place it might be simple to crumble and quit, he’s utilizing his unenviable place as a power for good.

By a sequence of epic challenges, he’s defying sickness and trying to lift £300,000 to assist the QuicDNA Undertaking which goals to shorten the time it takes to diagnose lung most cancers in sufferers in Wales. He has already raised £260,000 by operating the London Marathon in April and finishing a motorcycle trip from Cardiff to Tenby, the place he was educated.

Regardless that his most cancers has now grown immune to Osimertinib – the drug he has been taking since final 12 months – Maxwell will on Monday be a part of one other bike trip from Cardiff to Paris which goals to lift extra much-needed cash.

‘You by no means suppose you’re going to hear the phrases you will have incurable most cancers. They have been stated to me simply after two o’clock on September 8 final 12 months,’ Maxwell says.

‘Being 40 on the time with two younger youngsters, it’s one thing you by no means suppose will occur. The entire perspective of your life adjustments.’

Born in Pembrokeshire, Maxwell has had a outstanding profession in rugby. In 2004, he approached the Welsh Rugby Union and supplied to work for them at no cost to show his price.

He was quickly employed after which after a stint with Beneath Armour, Maxwell returned to the WRU to develop into their industrial director. He doubled Welsh rugby’s revenues and was on the centre of its corridors of energy throughout one of many organisation’s most profitable intervals.

In 2020, Maxwell joined the Six Nations however simply over a 12 months later, he started to really feel unwell.

It was the beginning of a protracted, painful and worrying journey which culminated with the worst doable information.

‘My dream was to sooner or later be WRU chief govt,’ Maxwell says. ‘I believe I used to be on the best path earlier than all this nevertheless it received’t be occurring now.’

It was summer time 2021 when Maxwell suspected one thing was unsuitable. He felt torpid and within the months that adopted, he was breathless, developed a cough, and had chest pains.

‘I ought to have gone and obtained checked out earlier,’ Maxwell says.

‘We’re all busy and typically neglect small adjustments in our well being. I urge everybody to get checked as quickly as doable if they believe something is unsuitable.’

In June 2022, docs discovered an eight-centimetre tumour in his left lung nevertheless it took 72 days for the official prognosis to come back again as most cancers.

The crushing information rocked Maxwell and his household.

‘The double whammy was discovering out I had Epidermal Progress Issue Receptor (EGFR) lung most cancers which was dangerous sufficient but additionally discovering out right away it was terminal, incurable and inoperable because it had unfold to my bones,’ Maxwell says.

Maxwell (centre) and mates after finishing a motorcycle trip from Cardiff to Tenby earlier this 12 months

‘I used to be on palliative care right away. My spouse Tracey and I had been ushered into fairly a tiny room. I’d seen in motion pictures once they inform individuals they’ve most cancers and so they don’t do it in a tiny little broom cabinet. I used to be pondering it wasn’t dangerous information as a result of I didn’t suppose they might try this in somewhat cabinet on a ward. Sadly, I used to be unsuitable.’

Roughly 39,000 individuals are recognized with lung most cancers every year within the UK. Round 15 per cent of these have EGFR mutations that are extra widespread in girls than males and in individuals who have by no means smoked or have been gentle people who smoke.

Maxwell’s life – and that of his nearest and dearest – modified instantly and eternally that September day.

He and Tracey have two younger youngsters – Isla, 12, and Zach who’s eight.

‘The necessary issues are family and friends. All the pieces else pales into insignificance,’ Maxwell says. ‘My line has at all times been I wish to do that with class. I wish to be sturdy for different individuals. There have been occasions the place it’s been arduous and I haven’t accomplished that.

‘I fear typically if I’m not accepting it. I do have moments once I suppose I’m OK. I even have actually darkish moments however I understand how to take care of them now. I take myself off on the bike.

‘I’m certain individuals have seen me biking or operating spherical Penarth crying! When I’m coaching I really feel like I’m beating most cancers and I say to myself that it picked the unsuitable physique when it picked on me. However it’ll win its battles extra sooner or later and that shall be an actual check of me staying sturdy.’

As we speak over what was speculated to be lunch in Penarth simply exterior Cardiff, it turns into obvious our order has been forgotten. One thing which could have beforehand been a reason for irritation or frustration now issues little to Maxwell. There are way more necessary issues.

‘It’s our nine-year marriage ceremony anniversary as we speak,’ Maxwell reveals after we meet. ‘Tracey and I made a decision to not rejoice it as I don’t need this to be our final.

‘Our goal is to rejoice 10 years subsequent 12 months. Our relationship has by no means been stronger. Telling the kids was completely horrific. It ripped my coronary heart out.

‘I don’t suppose any father or mother ought to ever have to try this. Our youngsters don’t deserve the ache that’s going to come back with this. It’s unfair.’

Earlier than we begin this interview, Maxwell reiterates he needs to talk brazenly and actually about his most cancers expertise – nevertheless painful it proves – in a bid to assist others.

Nothing is off the desk. Powerful questions are requested.

For the final eight months or so, Osimertinib has allowed Maxwell to proceed to work for the Six Nations, dwell a traditional life along with his household, and undertake some heroic fundraising challenges.

The cruelty of lung most cancers – often called the ‘silent killer’ – is that it does untold harm under the floor.

Signs may be few and much between after which impulsively, it’s too late.

Maxwell doesn’t look unwell. In current months, he has led on the signing off of serious new Six Nations broadcast and industrial offers. He has at all times labored arduous.

However now, along with his most cancers rising immune to the medication, he’ll step again from rugby within the coming weeks to spend extra time with Tracey, Isla and Zach.

Maxwell will start chemotherapy remedy in August. He hopes contributing to the QuicDNA Undertaking shall be his largest legacy.

‘It took 72 days with a great deal of biopsies, exams and journeys to hospital to work out my sickness,’ Maxwell explains. ‘These 72 days have been the toughest. My psychological well being was gone utterly.

‘The uncertainty was the worst factor. The QuicDNA Undertaking is a pilot which makes use of blood exams or liquid biopsies as a substitute of needle biopsies to assist detect incurable most cancers earlier.

‘There has already been hundreds of thousands of kilos raised to assist it and we wish to show it really works.

Maxwell ran the 2023 London Marathon as a part of his unimaginable fundraising to assist most cancers remedy in Wales

‘Lung most cancers is the largest killer in Wales. It kills greater than the subsequent two cancers mixed. The typical wait to get a needle biopsy check is 62 days. Inside that point, plenty of sufferers get very unwell which implies they don’t reply to sure remedies. In some circumstances, they cross away.

‘Dropping that point from 62 days to hopefully 30 will make an enormous distinction by way of size of life and coverings sufferers can obtain.

‘The pilot is underway and this funding helps ship it. If the docs can show it really works, then in time it may be rolled out throughout all of Wales. The way in which I’m constructed is I wish to have a goal.

‘After going via what I’ve, I wished to assist.’

Maxwell is not going to solely go away a legacy in rugby, however hopefully one within the healthcare system too.

On the WRU, he was the industrial linchpin as the boys’s nationwide aspect received Six Nations titles in 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2019 underneath Warren Gatland.

Maxwell led on quite a few main contracts together with bringing Beneath Armour to Wales and the naming rights deal for what’s now Principality Stadium. On the Six Nations, he secured a primary title sponsor for the ladies’s match when TikTok got here on board. At a difficult time for rugby, Maxwell is optimistic about its future.

He sat on the WRU govt board at 27 and is massively passionate concerning the recreation in his nation. ‘I’ve made mates for all times in rugby and that’s been the largest success of my profession. Once I had this horrible information, I felt the arms of rugby wrapped round me. It lifted me and my household up,’ he provides.

‘Each single union, accomplice, broadcaster and sponsor has been superb. I’ve been overwhelmed with the assist I’ve had. That’s paled my skilled achievements into insignificance.

‘It’s concerning the mates I’ve made and the relationships I’ve constructed.

‘That’s what I’ll take away from rugby. It’s been overwhelming. Individuals speak about rugby values and a few say they’re underneath risk however as an individual who has wanted assist from the sport, I can inform you the game has been superb in supporting me and my household.

‘The WRU and Six Nations particularly have accomplished all they will. I do know the rugby household shall be there to take care of mine once I’m gone too. It’s superb what rugby can do.

‘When the chips are down, individuals come ahead.’

As ‘lunch’ involves an finish, Maxwell is requested if he has the rest so as to add.

Maxwell’s inspirational story is one in all true resilience

He factors out the liquid biopsy machines which check for most cancers value £1million every. He reiterates the necessity for most people to donate to most cancers charities. Maxwell provides that the forgotten order isn’t any downside because it solely helps to carry ahead a deliberate afternoon along with his household.

‘They’ve stated they could title one of many machines “Maxwell” sooner or later,’ he says with a smile.

‘I wish to be remembered for what I did in life and I believe that’s fairly cool.’

To donate to Craig Maxwell’s funding for The QuicDNA Undertaking and Velindre Most cancers Centre, go to: https://craigmaxwell-quicdna.justgiving-sites.com