AFL: Family of the late Paul Dear aiming for Dare to Hope match to raise funds for pancreatic cancer research

Hawthorn’s 1991 grand final hero Paul Dear lost his battle with pancreatic cancer but he dreamt of leaving a legacy with the Hawks’ Dare to Hope match.

The late Paul Dear’s wife, Cherie (second from right), and children (second from right) Calsher, Maya, Nate and Harry, visited the Hawks this week.

The Dear family, including Hawthorn’s 1991 Norm Smith medallist Paul, piled into the ex-Hawk’s old Tarago two Wednesdays ago bound for Rickett’s Point.

The scenic spot on the foreshore in Beaumaris is a family favourite.

Paul’s wife, Cherie, and his four children – Harry, 25, Nate, 19, Maya, 18, and Calsher, 16 – will forever remember that fond moment because they lost their husband and father, respectively, two nights later.

The 55-year-old footballer, who played 123 games and kicked 80 goals between 1987 and 1996, beat the odds to last as long as he did but pancreatic cancer eventually took his life.

No cancer is pleasant but the pancreatic kind is particularly cruel and aggressive, with about half of the people diagnosed dying within three months.

Researchers predict pancreatic cancer will be the second-deadliest cancer in Australia by 2030.

Another sporting identity, former Australian Open tournament director Colin Stubs, died this week of the same cancer.

Paul was first diagnosed in September 2020 and twice previously was close to death, including in February this year, with doctors telling Cherie he had reached ‘end of life’ on that occasion.

“When you’ve been told that and confronted that this could be it, every day after that is even more of a bonus,” Cherie told News Corp this week at Waverley Park.

“I know that the grief is going to come for me. But, at the moment, we’re still buoyed by the outpouring of everyone’s tributes and emotion and the fact that we know we were lucky that we got that extra time.”

Hawthorn’s 1991 grand final hero Paul Dear, who recently lost his long battle with pancreatic cancer, and wife Cherie last year. Picture: Nicki Connolly

He hoped to make it to the scene of his 1991 grand final heroics this week to speak to Hawthorn’s players and coaches again, as he did in his trademark upbeat way on May 3, but it was not to be.

Paul and Cherie knew his days were numbered when on December 30 last year, shortly after their last Christmas together, a diagnostic procedure confirmed his cancer had returned.

They were determined to not only live for the moment rather than be too overcome by sadness but also to try to make a difference.

In partnership with Hawthorn and the Pancare Foundation, the Dears helped create the Dare to Hope match, which the Hawks and West Coast will play in at the MCG on Sunday.

The expectation is it will become an annual staple on the football calendar to help raise awareness and much-needed money for the Dare to Hope: Paul Dear Pancreatic Cancer Fund.

The late Paul Dear (right) played 123 games and kicked 80 goals for Hawthorn.

“We hope it will just grow and grow and that would be an amazing legacy, if Paul’s situation can lead to a change,” Cherie said.

“It’s not only about saving lives, because pancreatic cancer is notoriously hard to treat.

“This cancer leaves families pretty devastated, because it happens so quickly, so our focus is on extending your life and whatever time you have left – and trying to have a good quality of life.”

Survival rates for breast and prostate cancer are pleasingly surging in part because of major financial support, but Cherie believes pancreatic cancer has been neglected for too long.

That’s why she is so grateful for the Hawks’ emotional support and their willingness to hold the Dare to Hope match, saying it was “softening the pain of Paul’s passing”.

Paul Dear (second from left) with his three sons – (from left) Calsher, Harry and Nate – in October 2020 after he started chemotherapy. Picture: Jarrod Barnes Photography

“It’s been an honour and a privilege to experience the outpouring of sympathy extended to us and to witness the respect and high regard that Paul is held in by the football world and wider community,” Cherie said.

“To know he was loved not just for his football exploits but also just for being his down-to-earth and humble self has made us all proud.”

As for Paul’s children, like Cherie, they remain remarkably positive and his oldest son, Harry, said they felt fortunate to have him in their life at all.

“He was just such a great father and role model to us and his unconditional support will not be forgotten,” Harry said.

“We’re very lucky to have had him in our lives, as well as mum, and everyone else. I love our family so much – we’re very blessed.”

People can donate to the Dare to Hope: Paul Dear Pancreatic Cancer Fund here.

Originally published as AFL: Family of the late Paul Dear aiming for Dare to Hope match to raise funds for pancreatic cancer research