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"Cure Leukaemia’s funding of the UK Trials Acceleration Programme (TAP) is a game-changer and increases the access for blood cancer patients to potentially transformative new therapies."
Sir John Bell
Geoff's Biggest Challenge Of 2017
11th October 2017
Former England, Crystal Palace and Wolves footballer, blood cancer survivor and Cure Leukaemia Patron Geoff Thomas, has kicked off a campaign that could change the face of leukaemia treatment across the UK. This week, he will visit Deutsche Bank offices across the UK to talk about the work of Cure Leukaemia, the charity he has recently raised over £250,000 for after embarking on a gruelling 11,000km Three Tours Challenge.
As part of the investment bank’s charity partner search, which could be worth in excess of £2 million to the charity that wins the Deutsche Bank employee vote, Geoff Thomas is a walking example of how the money can really save lives.
"I was given just three months to live in 2003 when I was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML).
Thankfully, due to the expert care of Professor Charlie Craddock CBE and the brilliant team Cure Leukaemia supports at the Centre for Clinical Haematology, I was able to have a bone marrow transplant from my sister Kay and I have been in remission since 2005.
I was one of the lucky ones and I remember many who lost their battles, and that’s why I am determined to secure Deutsche Bank’s support for the charity.” Geoff said.
He continued: ‘The investment from Deutsche Bank would allow the globally-significant work of the charity to reach further across the UK, covering an increased catchment area of 20 million, meaning thousands of blood cancer patients will have access to pioneering and potentially life-saving treatments for the disease that are currently not available through standard care.
Not only would the partnership save thousands of lives it would also hasten global progress towards eradicating all forms of blood cancer within 25 years. This is the time for curing blood cancer and I would like to urge Deutsche Bank’s staff to back Cure Leukaemia and help make what was once a dream, a reality.” Geoff concluded
Earlier this year, alongside three other amateur cyclists - Doug McKinnon, Hayden Groves and James Maltin - Geoff took on all three Grand Tours to raise funds for Cure Leukaemia. The Three Tours Challenge Team rode the Giro D’Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta consecutively one day ahead of the professionals. They completed the epic 11,000km journey in September and, to date, have raised over £250,000.
Geoff said about the challenge;
This was a huge challenge for a professional let alone four amateurs but we did it, however my biggest challenge of 2017 is taking place right now.
Cure Leukaemia is one of six charities with a chance to become Deutsche Bank’s Charity of the Year for 2018 and 2019, and the UK workforce is currently voting to decide the two successful charities.
Voting finishes on Monday 16 October and if Cure Leukaemia is successful, the impact of this partnership would completely transform the charity."
Joining Geoff in supporting Cure Leukaemia have been a host of famous faces including Ben Foster, Jimi Mistry, Aidy Boothroyd, Ian Wright and double Grand Tour champion Chris Froome, who added:
“Completing the Tour de France and Vuelta double has been the most challenging few months in my cycling career.
I am therefore in awe of what Hayden, Geoff, Doug and James have achieved in completing the 3 Tours Challenge. To ride all three grand tours in the same year is truly remarkable for a professional let alone a team of amateurs and to also raise £250,000 for Cure Leukaemia at the same time means they deserve the recognition of the whole sporting world.
I would like to personally congratulate the Three Tours Challenge team on their amazing achievement, and as I lost my mother to blood cancer I would urge people to support their fundraising efforts in the coming weeks and months.
Chapeau!”