Geoff Thomas, the former Crystal Palace captain, is setting off to ride the Tour de France route next month, 20 years since he first completed the arduous test of cycling endurance.
Summer mission: at 60, Geoff Thomas has overcome knee injury to get back on his bike
Former England midfielder Thomas will once again will be raising vital funds for Cure Leukaemia, as he continues to pay tribute to the medical staff and scientists who helped him to overcome chronic myeloid leukaemia 20 years ago.
Thomas, the Palace captain in the 1990 FA Cup final, having recovered from the excitement of the 2025 edition, was yesterday, Thomas was out for a training spin with his father. “Starting to get serious,” he said. “The Cure Leukaemia London to Paris next week then the biggy later in June – The Tour 21.”
This year’s preparations for the fund-raising bike ride have been marred with injury setbacks and debilitating knee pain, yet thanks to the innovative hydrogel injection Arthrosamid, Thomas’s osteoarthritis pain is under control ready for his next big challenge.
In 2003, just a year after retiring from professional football, Thomas was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia (a form of blood cancer) and was given just three months to live. However, after receiving a stem cell transplant from his sister Kay and undergoing treatment from Professor Charlie Craddock CBE, co-founder of Cure Leukaemia, Thomas entered remission in January 2005.
This life-saving treatment has motivated him to give back, dedicating himself to raising awareness and funds for blood cancer patients across the globe.
Cup captain: Thomas in his Palace playing days
Speaking on his decision to return to the Tour, 60-year-old Thomas said: “I’ve got to come back for one more Tour to celebrate 20 years since I first rode the Tour de France. It’s an incredibly special event for me, not only because of the challenge it presents, but because of the cause it supports.
“Every year we ride, we make a real difference, and I am proud to be part of it again in 2025!”
For further information about accessing Arthrosamid treatment, contact the Contura Orthopaedics Team via enquiries@arthrosamid.com.
And to Support Geoff Thomas and the Tour 21 team in changing the future of treatment for blood cancer patients across the globe, click here to visit their Just Giving page.
PAID ADS: To advertise your services or products to our 10,000 weekday visitors to the site, as featured on Google News Showcase, email us inside.croydon@btinternet.com for our unbeatable ad rates
- If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, or want to publicise your residents’ association or business, or if you have a local event to promote, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com
As featured on Google News Showcase
- Our comments section on every report provides all readers with an immediate “right of reply” on all our content. Our comments policy can be read by clicking here
Inside Croydon is a member of the Independent Community News Network
