When I moved to Seattle in November 1997, & joined the local gym, I asked whether there was a rugby team nearby. The receptionist knew somebody who played & a few days later Sig strolled in, toned & muscly as he often was, & immediately noticed the ‘English Bloke in the short, skin tight shorts,’ “you must be the rugby playing English guy?” That was the start of a great friendship.

Sig introduced me to the OPSB (Old Puget Sound Beach) rugby club & instant family that comes with any introduction to any rugby club. Now I have more friends in Seattle than anywhere else, all thanks to Sig.

What Sig did for OPSB was way beyond the ‘norm’, he was a one man recruiting machine, constantly hosting rugby people in spare rooms, organised kit, washed kit, & anything that needed doing… an endless list!

On the 2014 Ironman, Sig worked as a paramedic & signed up for the 2015 Lavaman Olympic triathlon. 1 month after returning to Seattle, Sig was diagnosed with a rare sarcoma. 11 months of chemotherapy later, he still wanted to compete in the 2015 Lavaman.

Consequently, there was quite a following to Hawaii in support of Sig, & Sig being Sig, organised accommodation, car hire, and T shirts. Unfortunately I was way too late to enter, so ended up tour ‘photo/video man.’

On Sig’s return to Seattle, his condition worsened & was terminal. I went to Seattle with my son in March 2016 & visited Sig who looked fragile (photo), thin & very sick. The results of his latest scan revealed that he was riddled with tumours & hadn’t slept for 6 weeks because of the pain. Life was tough & 6 weeks later, Sig died. He was 46 years old & the fittest guy I knew.

It was decided that a group would go back to Hawaii & compete in the 2017 Lavaman in Sig’s honour. There are 34 of us competing!

Therefore please donate. You can read more about Sig & the Northwest Sarcoma Foundation by clicking the link below.

https://nwsarcoma.org/stories/sarcoma-stories/tributes/187-remembering-sig-kohl

Many thanks.