The Tom Bowdidge Foundation

General information

Today, the 28th February 2014 sees the launch of The Tom Bowdidge Foundation (TBF) – a new charity dedicated to raising funds to support research projects and provide physical and emotional support for teenagers and young people with cancer. The charity founded by parents, Richard and Nikki and their daughter Emma, is in memory of their son Tom who sadly passed away on the 18th October 2013, aged just 19 years old.

Today would have been Tom’s 20th birthday and Tom’s family felt it was the perfect day to launch The Tom Bowdidge Foundation. Tom was diagnosed with a desmoplastic small round cell tumour and extensive peritoneal disease back in September 2012, a very rare form of cancer, with only 200 recorded cases worldwide. Although the doctors and support people were great from the outset, there was very little specialist knowledge available about his condition. So despite being very poorly, Tom being Tom, decided to do something about that and threw himself into fundraising mode and dedicated the rest of his life to raising money specifically for Teenage Cancer Trust. In just over a year he was the inspiration for people to raise over £170,000, it was a remarkable achievement for someone so young and who was also very unwell for a lot of that time.

When a young person is told they have cancer their world turns upside down. It was Tom’s wish that his fundraising would continue. In the weeks before he died he said he couldn’t go yet as there was still too much to do. The Tom Bowdidge Foundation’s goal is to build on the great work that Tom started and will create an enduring legacy in his name that will bring hope and benefit to all young cancer sufferers and their families, both now and in the future. Its aim is to focus on three key areas — research, physical and emotional. Each of these areas plays a significant part in a cancer diagnosis and the journey that follows.

The pain of losing a child is indescribable and it is hoped that The Tom Bowdidge Foundation will provide a lasting and positive outcome from his untimely passing. He was a constant source of inspiration to his family and the many people he touched during his short life. It is imperative that his inspirational spirit is remembered and celebrated. Richard and Nikki believe that The Tom Bowdidge Foundation and its commitment to raising funds to provide research, physical and emotional support is a fitting tribute to their son who battled so bravely every day against this cruel disease.

To the end, Tom remained positive and fully engaged with his quest and virtually his last words to his parents were to ‘Crack on’ and that is exactly what The Tom Bowdidge Foundation intends to do.