40tude's Ambassador, Scotland and British Lion rugby legend Andy Nicol has made his first visit to St. Mark's Hospital to meet Dr. Penelope Edwards, who is leading the Tom Smith Research Fellowship that 40tude is proud to be supporting in Tom's memory.

Sadly Tom died from colon (bowel) cancer in April 2022.  Tom played with distinction for Scotland and the British & Irish Lions, and was described by Sir Ian McGeechan as “the greatest Scottish player of the professional era.” 

Tom was also an ambassador for 40tude curing colon cancer, which raises awareness and funds to cure colon cancer. Tom wanted to not just raise awareness but to help find a cure for colon cancer.  Colon cancer is the biggest killer of non-smokers in the UK.  It is a cancer which has touched most families in the UK.

Prior to his sad death, Tom and Andy Peterson, a long time 40tude supporter, were working on a major ride to raise money for 40tude. In July 2022, in honour of Tom and also Andy's father who also died from colon cancer, Andy rode solo and unsupported between the four compass points of the UK mainland, a distance of 2,500 km, in just 7 days in the height of last year's extreme summer temperatures. 

Andy raised more than £160,000 for 40tude as a result of his extraordinary efforts, and these funds enabled the establishment of the Tom Smith Research Fellowship, a dedicated research post investigating the hereditary causes of colon cancer.

Speaking of his visit, Andy Nicol said "I'm very pleased to have made my first visit to St. Mark's and to have the opportunity to meet Penelope who is the Tom Smith Research Fellow, and other inspiring members of the St. Mark's team."

  

40tude's Ambassador, the rugby legend Andy Nicol (on right) visits Dr. Penelope Edwards (left), Dr. Kevin Monahan (centre) and Jason Bacon, CEO of St. Mark's Hospital Foundation (right) to hear more about the Tom Smith Research Fellowship established with the help of 40tude