Richard's Story

24 June 2024

PCSO 57793 Richard Chainey

I am a serving PCSO who has worked out of Maidstone Police Station for nearly 15 years. I have always been a fit healthy person who has loved running half marathons and playing football regularly.

In July 2022, I was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia. It was all a bit of a whirlwind at the time, I was rushed from Maidstone A&E straight up to Kings Hospital, London to start chemotherapy immediately. I was told that the type of Leukemia I had was treatable but also very aggressive.

I spent eight long weeks in Kings, having intensive chemotherapy, bone marrow aspiration’s and many other scans. I lost my hair, three stone in weight and overcame several infections. After that eight weeks, I was released into the care of the Oncology Centre at Maidstone. For the next six months I received  another four cycles of chemotherapy. During that time my bone marrow results showed that I was in remission! Eight months after receiving the diagnosis I returned to work!

I continued to have bone marrow aspirations every few months. Sadly, in July 2023 I received the dreaded phone call from the doctor who told me that the Leukemia had returned. This was so hard to take at the time, I literally couldn’t believe it as I was feeling so healthy. Due to the Leukemia being caught early I was able to stay at home and receive the chemotherapy I needed in Maidstone. Eleven months later, I have completed another 5 cycles of chemotherapy, gone into remission again and am looking forward to retuning to work again very soon!

I was told about the Benevolent Fund a few weeks into my first diagnosis. I knew that I had been paying into the fund since I joined but I didn’t really know a lot about it. I contacted the Benevolent Fund office and advised them of my situation. Right from start Gary and Debbie were wonderful! They were so quick to respond to my emails and showed great empathy. I was advised that I could apply for a grant to help with travel expenses etc.
The grants I have received from the BF on several occasions has really helped my family and I. It allowed my wife and kids to travel up to London and see me several times. It took away the financial stress that we thought we might have to endure. Even when I came back to Iwade, I was still attending Maidstone Oncology 4/5 times a week for blood tests, treatment or scans. There are so many extra costs when you are living with such an illness and having that helping hand from the BF just made everything that little easier.

I would just like to sincerely thank the BF on behalf of my family and I. I would urge anyone else out there who may be struggling to get in contact with the BF and just see if they can help you.