Tom Smith is a rugby legend.  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.” 

Following his diagnosis with colon cancer, Tom became ambassador for 40tude.  He 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.

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 honour of Tom, Andy rode solo and unsupported between the 4 compass points of the UK mainland, a distance of 2,500 km, in under 7 days in mid-July 2022, in some of the highest summer temperatures ever recorded in England.

The donations raised as result of Andy's epic ride, and made by many others in memory of Tom are now funding a dedicated research fellowship to investigate the genetics of hereditary colon cancer.  The Tom Smith Research Fellowship is based at St. Mark's Hospital, the UK's national bowel hospital, and aims to improve the current understanding of how familial colon cancer develops and what could be done to help prevent other families from being affected by this preventable disease.  

If you would like to support the work of the 40tude-funded Tom Smith Research Fellow you can make a donation here.  Thank you for your support.

MAKE A DONATION FOR THE TOM SMITH RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP