Over the next five weeks, around 40,000 fans of the British and Irish Lions are set to enjoy an incredible time throughout Australia, starting with their clash against the Western Force this Saturday evening.
Among the many inspiring tales is that of the Hardman family.
Stan Sport reached out to the English family of five as they embarked on an unforgettable nine-match caravan journey from Perth to Brisbane, making stops in Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide, returning to Brisbane, followed by two matches in Melbourne and finishing back in Sydney.
In a courageous decision, the Hardmans sold their home and invested in a caravan after Kate, now 40, was diagnosed with stage four metastatic breast cancer earlier this year, which is deemed incurable.
“The impact of cancer has been devastating at times, but it also served as a powerful motivator for us to seize the moment,” shared Kriss, Kate’s husband and a testicular cancer survivor himself since 2020, in an interview with Stan Sport.
The Hardman family share a moment with Stan Sport’s Michael Atkinson. Stan
“I genuinely believe we would not have embarked on this Lions tour if it weren’t for our circumstances,” he added.
Kate’s battle with cancer began after the birth of her first son, Kian, in 2017 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer on her left side.
Following radiotherapy, a mastectomy, and reconstructive surgeries, she received the all-clear.
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However, while expecting her third child, daughter Kaia, another lump was detected on Kate’s right side alongside the previous cancer site.
“Receiving a cancer diagnosis undeniably alters your outlook on life,” Kate explained.
“We were determined to return to Australia and savour every moment.”
The Hardman family enjoys a heartfelt video message from Lions star Fin Smith. Stan
In a special moment, Michael Atkinson from Stan Sport shared a touching video message from Lions star Fin Smith with the Hardman family.
“I’ve just heard about your incredible journey,” Smith expressed.
“I know you’ve got quite the crowd in that van, but I hope it’s comfortable and you’re all having a great time without too many arguments. I’m really looking forward to hopefully seeing you at some of the games in Australia. Enjoy every moment!”
Fin Smith gives a thumbs up during training. Getty
Kate was truly touched by the gesture.
“How amazing is that!” she exclaimed.
Kriss also shared insights about their challenging yet uplifting journey with the Lions website.
“At times, we have questioned why this is happening to us — how did we end up in this situation in our 30s with cancer? I was 33 and Kate was 38 when she received her incurable diagnosis,” he reflected.
“It felt incredibly unfair. We allowed ourselves a moment of self-pity, but then we thought, ‘What are we going to do now?’ That’s when we decided to truly embrace life.”
Having played rugby for over 25 years, Kriss understands the camaraderie of the sport.
“Rugby brings people together like nothing else. We wanted to showcase this on our social media platform and convey how significant rugby has been in our lives,” he noted.
“Rugby has always been a passion for us, and we are going all out for this tour.”
As for his thoughts on the series outcome?
The British and Irish Lions squad arrives in Australia. Getty
“I absolutely enjoy besting the Aussies,” Kriss chuckled.
“I’d be ecstatic if the Lions clinch the series. That’s the beauty of rugby; you can sit side by side with a supporter of the opposing team and engage in some good-natured banter while keeping it all in good spirits. That’s what makes it so great.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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