Jeremy Richardson

---

Jeremy Derek Richardson was born July 1st 1982 at the Sturgeon General Hospital in St Albert to his parents Robin and Mitch.  He showed signs of athletic ability and focus at a young age and was competitively swimming at age 5. He was also involved in many team and individual sports. He grew up to love hockey and lacrosse.  His talent was accentuated by his passion and determination. His charisma was looked up to by friends and family, especially by his brother Lee and his sister Jordie.

He played all of his minor lacrosse as a St. Albert Ram and was a member of one of the first junior teams that the Rams put together.  He played 3 years with the junior Edmonton Miners, 2001-2003.  He could be counted on to be one of the team's leading scorers and was named MVP in a game at the Minto Cup in 2003. His lacrosse talents were recognized on the largest stage when he was the first St. Albert Ram to be drafted into the NLL, picked in the third round, 27th overall by the Calgary Roughnecks in 2003.

In August of 2003 he was diagnosed with stage 3 malignant melanoma.  He underwent multiple surgeries and treatments at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton. When the treatments at the Cross Cancer Institute were exhausted, he flew to Bethesda, Maryland where he was involved in numerous clinical trials over 18 months at the National Institute of Health. He was nicknamed the Interleukin Superman. It represented his valiant fight to successfully complete one of the most difficult treatment series available. September 3rd was the happiest day of his life when he married Gillian Rauw. The next week he travelled once again to Bethesda for his final surgery. On November 5th of 2005 he passed away, surrounded by his family.

The Edmonton Miners dedicated their 2006 season to Jeremy and retired his #23; the first number retired in their 21 year existence.  They also named the team's Offensive Player of the Year Award in Jeremy's memory.  In recognition of his dedication to lacrosse the St Albert Rams renamed the Baggataway Tournament to the Jeremy Richardson Memorial Baggataway Tournament.  His wife Gillian developed an interdisciplinary program at the University of Alberta which promotes sun safety and awareness to Edmonton and area youth.  Jeremy's family continues to work closely with Canadian Skin Cancer Foundation in their fight against cancer.