Ollie Hodges, 7, vows to raise money for the cancer research charity his late dad, Ryan, set up

Ollie’s father found out he was dying just days after learning he was going to be a dad. Now his brave little boy has a plan to continue his legacy.

Adelaide man Ryan Hodges received the best – and worst – news of his life in the same week.

Four days after the elation of learning he was to become a dad, he was given the devastating diagnosis he had stage 4 lung cancer.

The fit and healthy 32-year-old who’d “never smoked a day” in his life was floored, describing the rollercoaster of emotions that followed.

“We were kind of wondering, will I see Ollie be born, will I see him go to kindy, will I see him go to school? It was pretty gut-wrenching,” Mr Hodges said shortly before he died last October, after fighting the illness for seven years.

Just 19 per cent of those diagnosed at stage 4 survive more than 12 months with “only a few per cent” making it to five years.

A proud family man: The late Ryan Hodges is pictured with wife Helen and young son Ollie. Picture: Supplied

The brave dad was determined not only to fight the disease but to raise funds to support new research, appreciative of every moment he got to spend with his son due to personalised treatments and precision dosing offered at Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer.

Partnering with the Flinders Foundation, the Ryan Hodges Fund was established.

His wife, Helen, and son, now 7, are determined to continue to help build the charity and will be raising funds for it in next month’s City-Bay.

Ollie as a toddler with his late dad, Ryan Hodges. Picture: Supplied

‘Best dad in the world’, Ryan Hodges is pictured with son Ollie. Picture: Supplied

Ollie wants to keep raising money for the charity his late dad, Ryan Hodges, set up. Picture: Supplied

“My Dad raised money for the doctors and researchers so that they could help other people with cancer have a good life. I am going to do the same,” Ollie says.

Mrs Hodges says her late husband would be incredibly proud of his beloved young son.

“He was our little miracle baby and brought so much joy and purpose to our lives at a time we needed it most – being Ollie’s Dad meant everything to Ryan,” she said.

“We’re not going to let cancer win by stopping the great work Ryan started, or stopping the amazing gift of life we have been given.

“I think he would say to Ollie, ‘I’m so proud of you buddy’ and to me, ’Don’t let this beat you’.”

To support Ollie’s fundraiser, to: citybay22.grassrootz.com/flinders-foundation/ollie-hodges

THE LUMARY CITY-BAY FUN RUN IS ON SEPTEMBER 18.

RUN OR WALK 3KM, 6KM OR 12KM, OR RUN A HALF MARATHON, AND FUNDRAISE FOR CHARITY. REGISTER AT CITY-BAY.ORG.AU