Cancer fundraisers by Craig Maxwell who has terminal illness

The team setting off on the hike

Holding top jobs for the WRU then the Six Nations tournament, Craig Maxwell had always been immersed in the competitive world of rugby, taking on many challenges himself.

But after a charity ride from Cardiff to Paris in July, he became ill and was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.

The devastating news came as a total shock to the 41-year-old father-of-two.

But he has determinedly kept pushing himself and has raised £930,000 for charity since his diagnosis.

On Friday, he will set off on another gruelling challenge, taking part in the Welsh 3000s - climbing 15 mountains, all over 3,000ft (914 metres) in 24 hours.

He is determined to keep active and fundraising as long as possible as he faces up to having to soon start chemotherapy.

The sporting community have rallied around, with former Wales captain Sam Warburton calling Craig "an amazing man who's a real inspiration", while cyclist Geraint Thomas called his efforts "incredible", adding: "You're an inspiration mate."

• Doddie Weir cyclists travel to Edinburgh

• Alix Popham suffers concussion at Ironman

"I wasn't really feeling right before the bike ride to Paris," said Craig from Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan.

"But I just thought I had a chest infection and the fatigue was maybe down to me getting older and bringing up two young children.

"I was going back and fore to the doctor, but nothing was showing."

Mr Maxwell, who is chief commercial officer for the Six Nations rugby tournament and held a similar role with the WRU, had always been a keen sportsman.

The rugby community has rallied around for fundraisers- including legendary former player and commentator Jonathan Davies

It made the diagnosis more of a shock, as he added: "The problem with lung cancer is there's very few symptoms with it and when they do eventually show it's often too late and by then it's spread to other parts of the body.

"I started to have pains in my chest and started coughing up blood after the bike ride and I went to the hospital and that's when they found the tumour on my lung."

Craig was diagnosed with non-smoking related stage four lung cancer, which is caused by changes to a gene in the body.

It is the most advanced stage, which meant the disease had spread from his lungs to his bones, ribs, spine, sternum and hip.

He had been taking a cancer growth blocker to slow it spreading, but that has now stopped working, meaning he will have to start chemotherapy in the next few weeks.

Craig has had much support on his challenges, with many friends and colleagues joining in

This is why he is fundraising hard now, adding: "I am scared about starting chemotherapy.

"Physically I'll start to look ill, and I worry how that will affect me and how my children will see me and the effect it will have on them."

Craig and wife Tracey have been honest with Isla, 12 and Zach, eight.

"We did at first take time to tell the children, but we've been very open and honest, and we've talked about the process and involving them as much as possible, which I think really helps and it's helped us, but it's been the hardest thing we have ever had to do," he said.

"No parent should have to have that conversation with their children. It is heart-breaking.

"I'm trying to spend as much time with the children as possible but I'm also trying to keep myself as fit and healthy as possible to keep fighting this disease."

Along with 24 friends, Craig sets off on the Welsh 3000s challenge at 22:00 BST Friday, a journey that will involve 36 miles (58km) of hiking, climbing a total of 4,000m (13,123ft) and reaching 15 peaks.

In total, his challenges, including cycling from Tenby to Cardiff, have raised £430,000 to support the QuicDNA project.

It aims to shorten the time it takes to diagnose lung cancer in patients in Wales.

Diane Engelhardt has praised Craig's efforts to leave a legacy

A further £500,000 has come from The Moondance Foundation - set up by Henry and Diane Engelhardt, two of the founders of the Admiral Insurance group.

The money will be used to start a charity with Craig.

Craig said he has received "tremendous support" from the WRU, the rugby community, and the Engelhardts after Diane agreed to fund the launch of his charity.

Diane said: "Craig's resilience in the face of this disease is inspirational. His commitment to leave this world a better place for others is the epitome of generosity.

"We are grateful to be able to support his vision."

He hopes the charity will be something his children can focus on in their dad's memory, but admits: "I don't think you ever really do process a terminal diagnosis.

"I thought I could let this be the end of something or the start of something.

"And that's the way I've looked at it, the start of me creating a legacy and showing my children that even at the worst time possible, you can still rise up and be positive and make a difference."

He described the 78 days before he was diagnosed as the "hardest, hardest days I've ever had", adding: "Not knowing what your future holds, knowing you're ill, but having no treatment."

The certainty of chemotherapy now looms, but Craig is determined to keep pushing himself on and raising funds for as long as he can.