After retiring from the Tenderness Tour after the 2019 Tenderness Tour, Richard was hospitalized in late 2019 due to dehydration and would end up losing his upper left leg to an extended infection. Recovering and off work for several months, Richard returned to work in March 2020 just a week before all employees were sent home to work remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The combination of health concerns and the pandemic limited activities to the annual Race Away From Domestic Violence, an event Richard participated in virtually but an event for which he has maintained involvement since the beginning. 

In 2021, Richard would continue the same schedule. In Spring 2021, he returned to his office on a hybrid schedule and again participated in the Race Away From Domestic Violence in Indianapolis.