Hundreds gathered at Ahipara yesterday to farewell Rikki Nathan. Photo / Francis Malley
Hundreds gathered at Ahipara yesterday to farewell Rikki Nathan. Photo / Francis Malley
Rikki Nathan died peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by family and friends, on Thursday.
He was 24. He was farewelled at Ahipara's Korou Kore Marae, then laid to rest at the nearby Hiruharama urupa.
Having fought non-Hodgkins lymphoma for three years, from the age of nine, Rikki was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour early last year, at the age of 22.
Initially surgery, followed by radiation and chemotherapy, seemed to have been successful, but the tumour returned, requiring another bout of radiation treatment.
Told that he had less than a year to live, and that the only possibility of increasing the odds lay with specialised chemotherapy treatment that would cost around $100,000, his extended family and friends embarked upon a social media fundraising campaign, along with a dinner at Te Ahu in Kaitaia.
Two weeks before the dinner took place, however, Rikki decided to forego further treatment, his family saying proceeds raised to that point would go towards enhancing his quality of life.
Those who had donated via the Givealittle page were contacted and asked if they wished their contributions to be returned.
Rikki spent much of his last few weeks in Auckland, where he grew up, connecting with his brother and friends before returning to Kaitaia.
He appeared well, but his condition deteriorated on Tuesday and he was hospitalised briefly.
He was at home when he finally lost his battle, just two weeks after he donated $10,000 from the Givealittle campaign to Camp Quality (which caters for child and teenage cancer patients), an organisation that Syd Nathan said had given his son fond memories.
Rikki and his partner Arli also made a significant donation to a Far North teenager who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, but Rikki had asked that his name not be put on the cheque, an action that a family spokesperson said was characteristic of his generous, compassionate nature.
Rikki and his father Syd, at home at Ahipara earlier this year. Photo / Francis Malley
"Never one for the limelight. Very humble guy. It's almost two years since he was diagnosed [and] never one word of negativity, never one moan, no 'why me?' Not once," she added.
"That's incredible for a young person who had to face that [illness] for their lifetime ... That really shone through to everybody. How inspirational [he was] in the positivity field. We can all learn a lot from him."
Many of those who paid tribute spoke of his humble nature and composure in the face of a long, debilitating battle with illness.
His Te Rarawa teammates spoke of playing alongside a truly good player, but for many his most enduring legacy was a brilliant, heart-warming smile, described as like a light being turned on.
