Geoff Thomas

Geoff Thomas was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia in 2003.  His life was saved by a bone marrow transplant from his sister.  Since recovering from his illness, Geoff has dedicated his life to raising money to fund blood cancer treatment,

Born a kick away from Manchester City’s old Maine Road ground in 1964.  He left school at 16 and started his working life as an electrician but in 1982 he took a pay cut to become a professional footballer.  He joined Rochdale before being spotted by Dario Gradi and moving to Crewe.  In the late 1980′s Steve Copell signed him for Crystal Palace and Geoff became captain, famously leading the club to a 3-3 draw in the 1990 FA Cup Final against Manchester United. They lost the replay, but finished 3rd in the old First Division, the highest in the club’s history.

Geoff was spotted by England Manager, Graham Taylor, winning his first cap playing in a European Championship qualifier against Turkey. Geoff played nine times for his country and went on to play for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest.

Post football, Geoff ran a fashion business in Birmingham but in his first year of retirement he started to feel unwell.  Weeks after a holiday he was devastated to be diagnosed with Leukaemia. Without a bone marrow transplant he would die.  Mercifully, his sister Kay proved a perfect match and Geoff is now in remission after his transplant in 2004.

He began counselling other blood cancer patients and watched many friends lose their fight for life.  It was this experience that inspired Geoff to make a difference.  In 2005 he got on his bike and cycled the 3500 kms of the Tour De France route.  His experience is recounted in his bike “Riding through the storm”.  He has completed the London Marathon, New York Marathon and cycled London to Paris on a number of occasions.

He was recognised for his charity work by the BBC, being presented with the Helen Rollason award at Sports Personality of the Year.

Geoff founded the Geoff Thomas Foundation, now part of Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.  He campaigns tirelessly to give cancer patients access to potentially curative and life-enhancing treatments.

To book Geoff, Contact Us.