Russ' Memory
Our Mission
After a cancer diagnosis, people lose their sense of self and take on the role of “patient.” It is our
mission to reestablish a sense of normalcy for those patients who share the same love of the outdoors
as Russ by granting wishes of hunting and fishing trips to terminal cancer patients (age 21 years and
older). In addition, monetary donations are given directly to Pancreatic Cancer patients to help ease the
financial burden of fighting this horrendous disease, as well as other donations will be made where the
need arises or to help the community in general.
About Our Foundation
"Russ’ Outdoor Legacy Foundation" is a nonprofit organization in Memory of Russ Riddle, an avid fisherman and hunter, whose battle with pancreatic cancer ended in June of 2023. Even in the darkest days of his disease, Russ spent his time hunting, fishing, or watching the Outdoors Channel. Our ultimate mission is to be able to fund guided hunting and fishing trips for adults, ages 21 and up, whose lives have been shattered by terminal cancer. The goal is to reestablish a sense of normalcy for these patients who share the same love of the outdoors as Russ did. We are looking for supporters, like you, to help make dreams come true. After a cancer diagnosis, people lose their sense of self and take on the role of “patient.” We wish to put “hunter” and “fisherman” back into their identity.
The Foundation holds fundraisers and events to finance these trips but also to make donations to patients with pancreatic cancer. During his fight, Russ and his family came to realize how crippling financially a diagnosis like this can be. As a Foundation, we wish to ease their burden by reserving half of the proceeds from our fundraising efforts for these families.
If you are interested in helping Russ’ Outdoor Legacy Foundation, please contact us for more information.
About The Family
Russ and Hope Riddle were married almost 30 years ago and have 2 wonderful daughters, Anna and Ally. In February of 2022, Russ was diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer and several weeks later, Hope was diagnosed with Stage III Breast Cancer. With the support of the community, the Riddles were well taken care of allowing for the family to focus on healing rather than worrying about finances, dinners, etc. During this time, Hope and her daughters noticed the difference in support for people battling breast cancer versus those battling pancreatic cancer. Compared to breast cancer, there were significantly less resources available for patients and families fighting one of the deadliest cancers. During his fight, Russ continued to work and do all the things he loved: fishing, hunting and going to the family’s camp. As his disease progressed, he found it harder to do these things, relying on family and friends to help. One of his best friends took Russ on his last hunting trip, helping him every step of the way. The hunt was a huge success and Russ talked non-stop about the entire day. It was the first bit of normalcy in over a year; making him the happiest he’d been in months. After his passing, Hope, Anna, and Ally, made the decision to create this Foundation to not only give terminally ill patients, like their favorite guy, hunting and fishing experiences, but to provide both financial and community support to patients battling pancreatic cancer.
More About Our Hero
Russ was a wonderful husband, an amazing GIRL DAD, a brother, and a friend to most anyone he met. As his daughters would say, “he didn’t always light up a room, but he sure could make it laugh.” He had a sense of humor that was unmatched and a heart bigger than the moon. Russ loved his family more than anything and spent his years taking his girls hunting and fishing. Russ Riddle is loved and missed every day.
