Fundraising footballer to be honoured for charity work
Former England footballer turned charity fundraiser, Geoff Thomas is to be recognised for his unselfish work with the award of an honorary degree from Birmingham City University.
The leukaemia survivor will be presented with an Honorary Doctorate by BCU to recognise the millions of pounds he has helped raise for blood cancer charities since recovering from the disease himself.
Over a 20-year professional career, Thomas played for football clubs including Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers, as well as picking up nine caps for England.
After retiring from the game in 2002 he was diagnosed with a form of leukaemia and given just three months to live, but following a stem cell transplant from his sister and treatment by Birmingham’s Professor Charlie Craddock he entered remission two years later.
He has dedicated his life to raising funds for blood cancer patients ever since, starting the Geoff Thomas Foundation, which raises funds to fight cancer, and regularly taking part in activities for Cure Leukaemia.
He has ridden a number of challenging cycle rides and this year was part of the first group of amateur cyclists to take on all three of cycling’s Grand Tours in the same year (the Giro D’Italia, the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana).
Speaking about being nominated for the honour, Thomas said he was proud that his achievements were being recognised with an Honorary Doctorate.
He said: “From the bottom of my heart I am from my heart I’m humbled and honoured to be receiving this award from Birmingham City University.”
He will be presented with the honour at Birmingham Symphony Hall on Monday January 8 in a ceremony alongside graduates from BCU’s Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences.
Thomas has had a long association with the West Midlands having arrived in the region in 1993 to pull on the old gold of Wolverhampton Wanderers where he spent four seasons.
He also took part in the Pedal for Petrov ride to raise funds for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research in support of ex-Aston Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov who was forced to retire after being diagnosed with leukaemia in 2013.
