It is with deep sadness that the Geoff Thomas Foundation announces the death of one of its bravest supporters, Bedfordshire police officer Steve Mead.  Steve, who was 24, has lost his battle with Acute Adult Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.

Steve’s friends and colleagues, Chris Thomas and Matt Crouch, are riding this month’s London-Paris Cycle Tour with Team GTF as a tribute to him.

Matt Crouch talks about his friend:

“Steve is a legend. He never did his body any harm, yet had to fight this awful illness and he fought with every part of him but it just got too much.

“He had three dreams, to ride the tracks at Millbrook, to get an Evo to play around with and to marry Cat - not necessarily in that order!

“Le Mead 07, our first fundraiser for Leukaemia Research,  gave him his first dream.  He then bought his Evo and came straight to my house with his shiny new car and three weeks ago he married the love of his life.   I am so happy that I witnessed all his dreams come true.

 
Cat and Steve Mead surrounded by friends on their wedding day

“Steve never once moaned about his illness. He was brave, cheerful and full of fun and I will miss him immensely.   I know he'll be watching over Chris and I as we cycle to Paris and I also know he'll be planning to arrange a few nasty tricks on the way like hail showers or headwinds and will be laughing at us as we struggle on!”

 
Bedfordshire police officers Chris Thomas and Matt Crouch

Matt continued: “It’s all too sad to think about him not being here and it just breaks my heart.  It’s just so unfair.  Steve himself was so looking forward to Le Mead 09 and riding London-Paris and he was so proud to be part of the GTF.   Chris and I are also extremely proud to be doing this for Steve and we are determined to make this year’s Le Mead even bigger now as a tribute our main man.  Steve was a great bloke and a treasured mate.”

 
Geoff Thomas, Steve Mead and Matt Crouch

Geoff Thomas said: “I first met Steve and Matt last November and was immediately impressed by their enthusiasm and determination to support the Foundation.  Whenever I hear about the death of someone from blood cancer, the news always hits me like a punch in the chest.   I survived this terrible disease and yet people like Steve, people younger than me, with their whole lives ahead of them, are losing the battle. 

“I sometimes find it so frustrating because we know our planned network of treatment centres would help to get new treatments to patients and could save and prolong people’s lives.  We desperately need to find new treatments for leukaemia so that, in future, patients like Steve would have the chance to beat blood cancer.

“My thoughts are with Steve’s family and friends.   We will all be thinking of Steve as we ride this year’s London-Paris Cycle Tour.”

To support Matt and Chris and Team GTF in the L2P please go to:
www.justgiving.com/lemead09

 www.justgiving.com/geoffthomasfoundation