Last year I met this inspiring bloke, Paul Thompson, through friends in Marbella where I live these days. Talk about unstoppable; he’s has fought off the big ‘C’ twice, but isn’t just happy with his own victory, so has worn out a dozen sponges cleaning cars for the two cancer charities that supported him when he was ill.
Cancer killer
I know everyone has a cancer story, and often they don’t end well, and it’s no surprise since the disease kills 460 Brits every single day.
Originally Paul, who is still off work recovering from his second fight with the disease, set a target of raising £1,000 to help fellow sufferers, by cleaning a hundred cars in 100 days. But to his amazement he smashed his target in the first few days, and the money just kept coming.
And thanks to his tireless efforts his two charities – Cancer Focus and Friends of the Cancer Centre in Belfast – will split more than fifteen grand between them.
Two-time cancer survivor
All I can say is what an amazing bloke. He first got testicular cancer in 2007, followed by Metastatic Germ Cell tumours 14 years later during the Covid lock-down, but the setbacks haven’t dulled his enthusiasm for life.
One thing that really stuck in my mind about Paul was his never say die attitude. He once told me that the ‘chemo was no problem’ but what was really hard was getting his ‘head straight’ when receiving the bad news and during treatment.
Apparently starting the car washing gig was part of his personal recovery plan, and the idea hit him after seeing a very sick looking patient outside the hospital he was visiting for a check-up. The woman was in a wheel-chair and attached to a drip and a cigarette. That was the moment Paul decided to try and help others with their health, both physical and mental.
£750 into the pot
Of course I got him to do my car out here in Spain, and then I had the idea that when he’d finished his hundred-car marathon he should auction off his bucket and sponge. I said whatever the winning bid was I’d match it… Most expensive car-wash I’ve ever had at 750 quid, just as well he did a great job.
Hopefully people will agree that Paul is a way more deserving character to receive a New Year’s honour than many of the dodgy political appointments that get doled out. It’s also a good reminder that there are also so many more hard-working everyday people who rightly receive honours every year.
Well done Paul, and I hope we will meet up again soon, maybe in London where I’d love to get you in to speak to and inspire the team at WeFix.
If anyone would like to join me in throwing a few quid into the pot, Paul’s charity just giving page is: https://www.justgiving.com/
