The Tom Smith Ginza Ridge Challenge

In the early days of October a team of amateur trekkers, co-led by Gregor Townsend and Zoe Smith, successfully summitted “4 peaks in 4 days for 40tude” on the Ginza Ridge in the Northern Japanese Alps.  First they climbed up onto the Kassen Ridge, one of the toughest and steepest ascents in all of Japan.

They took on this challenge on in memory of Gregor’s former team-mate and Zoe’s husband, the Scotland rugby international and British & Irish Lion, Tom Smith, who tragically died two years ago, aged 50, after three years battling with colon cancer. 

Tom Smith worked tirelessly during his illness with 40tude who raise money for St. Mark’s, the National Bowel Hospital and world leaders in colon cancer research, diagnosis and treatment.

Rates of colon cancer are increasing, alarmingly, particularly in young people. Since the early 1990s the incidence of colon cancer in the UK for 25-49 year olds has increased by 52%. (Source: Cancer Research UK).  This does not have to be the case however:  colon cancer can be prevented, through regular screening.

So far the team have raised £76,000 of their £100,000 target to establish the “Tom Smith Screening Fund” to pay for colon cancer screening in younger people, as well as raising awareness of the vital role of screening and the imperative of acting on any symptoms.

If you would like to make a donation, you can do so easily here

MAKE A DONATION TO THE TOM SMITH FUND

Thank you for your support.

Find out more in this brilliant film created by our friends at Scottish Rugby:  

Thank you also to the excellent team at Tribal Tracks for designing and arranging the logistics of this challenge for 40tude.