Richie Lovett and Peter Crumpton - A Brief History 23rd November 2006 Richie Lovett "Toward the end of the 2005 surfing season I started experiencing some pain in my right hip. When some intensive training and multiple trips to health carers didn't improve the pain, it was becoming apparent that there could be a major problem. So, after a stack of testing the results indicated there was indeed a problem, I had a tumour in the top off my right femur that would later be diagnosed as Clear Cell Chondrosarcoma, a malignant type of cancer that if left untreated, would some day prove to be fatal. "After consulting with specialists in Australia my wife and I made the decision to seek the advice of some experts in the US. We arrived just after Christmas of 05 and we didn't end up leaving until March of 06. I had two operations in January. The first was a biopsy operation to take out the tumour and have it tested. After the results came back positive I was back on the table two weeks later. This was the big one, the surgeon had to take out the top third of my femur and replace it with a metal prosthesis. The surgery was pretty complicated but very successful in that I would still have the use of my leg. "Being told you have cancer is a life changing experience. My whole world was turned up side down. I went from living my dream and surfing and competing around the world, to being told that I would be lucky to ever ride a surfboard again.The road to recovery has been a long and hard but I'm still here and I can now ride a surfboard again. The support from around the world has been amazing and that has helped me to stay positive through this whole journey. As for the future, well it's unknown at the moment. For now my focus is on my wife, family and health. I'll continue to get stronger and who knows, maybe someday I'll be able to hit the lip hard again." Peter Crumpton "Three years ago now, less than 6 months before my 21st birthday, I found myself in emergency in complete heart block and being shocked back to life. I was later diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy which is a form of heart disease and a pacemaker was installed permanently in my chest a week after. "Since that day my condition has only got worse. The first thing I had to give up was surfing, followed by any sport that required me to run or get really active. I am at the point now where my heart is not functioning well at all and walking up hills and stairs have become difficult. "My specialist referred me to a heart transplant Doctor who assessed me and decided transplant was the only option. I reached out to an association in America and asked who is the best person in the world to give me an opinion, I borrowed some money and flew out for Boston with my parents to the New England Medical Centre after two days of testing. I was confident that they would have some kind of drug or answer that could fix me, unfortunately after all the doctors met with one another they delivered me the news that they also agree that transplant is the only option and they thought it to be a little more urgent than the doctors back home. "I now have an appointment to see my cardiologist and my heart failure doctor who will do the transplant, on the 22nd of this month and put me on the list. I am now physically and mentally preparing myself for the biggest hurdle of my life, I know I have no choice anymore I just want to make sure I am in the best condition for all this. It's a horrible thing knowing that you're waiting for someone to lose their life in a tragic accident before yours can be saved. "I have so many great friends in the surfing community that have shown me so much support and have really got behind me and helped me through everything so far and I know they will be there the entire time and that help is so important to me.Richie Lovett has been my motivation watching him being faced with Cancer and a loss of his professional surfing career and the way he has stayed strong and powered through his recovery has been a huge inspiration." Spare Parts - A Benefit Show for Richie Lovett and Peter Crumpton Friday December 1st - The Mona Vale Hotel, Mona Vale Featuring - The Goons of Doom, Sunroom, The Ruins, To The Throne Acoustic performers and the surf film "The Sketch" + more tba. Raffles with fantastic prize packs donated by some of surfing's top companies. Tickets $15.00 - All proceeds go directly to Richie and Peter's medical expenses. Doors open 8:00pm