One of the North West鈥檚 most respected dealmakers has opened up about his stage four cancer diagnosis.
Andy Thomas, who is a partner at YFM Equity Partners, is undergoing chemotherapy but was able to join work colleagues at the weekend to take part in the Vitality 10k race in aid of The Christie Charity in Manchester.
Thomas is responsible for sourcing new investments across the North West market and also manages YFM鈥檚 investment in Protein Works, E2E and Biorelate.
Last month the 42-year-old was told he had stage four cancer and shared the news on social media.
Thomas, who has previously worked at Maven Capital Partners, opened up about his cancer battle to 老九品茶Cloud.
He was first diagnosed with a rare type of cancer 鈥� known as olfactory neuroblastoma 鈥� in 2017 after he began suffering with the symptoms of what he thought was a heavy cold.
鈥淲hen I first got it I鈥檇 actually had it for ages and not realised,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檇 been suffering from what I thought was a cold, and then thought was sinusitis, and then chronic sinusitis – when actually it was a large tumour that had been blocking my naval cavity.
鈥淲e all get so wrapped up in how we busy we are and self medicate because we haven鈥檛 got time to go to the doctors – or at least that鈥檚 what I did.
鈥淚鈥檓 not saying it would have made any difference to me, but honestly those emails and video calls can probably wait a few hours while you get properly checked out.
鈥淥lfactory neuroblastoma is actually quite a rare form of cancer – there are 20-30 cases in the UK each year – so you鈥檙e literally more likely to get struck by lightning than catch this thing!
鈥淚 first got it back in 2017, and I鈥檝e had several major surgeries as well as radio and chemo since then as it spread into my lymph nodes.
鈥淓ach time it was thought to have been curable and that I鈥檇 been free of it after each occurrence, but this latest time it鈥檚 spread to multiple places, unfortunately.
鈥淗opefully the chemo will help to give me more time – fingers crossed. I鈥檓 getting loads of support, including from YFM, who鈥檝e been very good, so I鈥檓 well looked after and very fortunate.鈥�
Thomas praised his colleagues and the work of The Christie.
鈥淚 can say from first-hand experience what an amazing place this is, but it needs help to be able to deliver the great work it does,鈥� he said.
To mark YFM鈥檚 42nd anniversary,聽聽his employers are聽aiming to raise 拢42,000 for The Christie.
Donations can be made via YFM鈥檚
Senior figures from the corporate finance and professional services world have sent messages of support to the popular Thomas.
Chris Green, commercial banking director at Metro Bank, said: 鈥淚 still don鈥檛 know why bad things happen to good people. I think your actions here are truly inspiring and I wish you only good luck with the fundraising but obviously your treatment too.鈥�
David Kendrick, CEO and corporate finance partner at UHY Hacker Young, said: 鈥淜eep strong and fighting mate.鈥�
Rob Pailin, CEO at Total Processing, said: 鈥淵ou鈥檙e a great bloke and one of life鈥檚 good guys.鈥�
Richard Perkins, head of partnerships at HY Solicitors, said: 鈥淭errible news but it’s awe-inspiring that you’re facing it head-on and doing something positive.鈥�
Michelle Mullany, head of deal origination at MHA, said: 鈥淭hinking of you Andy – no words for stage four but I absolutely take my hat off to be doing fundraising while still having chemo.鈥�
鈥業 was too busy to get cancer – but diagnosis nearly came too late鈥�