Our good friend and colleague Richard James died from cancer on the 23rd August 2009 aged 49.

He was diagnosed with cancer in May 2008 which came as a terrible shock especially as he had a particularly virulent form of cancer and he was told there was no cure. He faced his illness with enormous courage and dignity and throughout retained his unrivalled sense of humour and sharp wit.

Despite his determination the cancer took hold and when he became too ill to be at home he and his wife Robbie, also a colleague working at John Lewis, were offered support and help from  the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice in Farnham. The staff there gave Richard the care and attention he needed and made sure Robbie was also given support and love to help her through such a traumatic time. They gave Richard his own room where their privacy was respected and which  allowed them both to be together  in his final days which meant such a lot.

In memory of Richard and to help raise funds for the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice a collection of John Lewis colleagues have decided to enter themselves into a 5km run around Greenwich Park, dressed as Santas.  We are not fitness fanatics nor conditioned athletes but see this as a fantastic opportunity to help raise extremely needed funds to help this worthy cause, so please help by sponsoring us.

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