“Thank you for giving future Ewing's patients the chance to have a future, a chance that Sam and so many others like him just didn't have. Your support means the world to us.”
Catherine, Dominic and Rachel Fitzsimmons
Fitzy's Fund - Sam Fitzsimmons
Raising vital funds for life-saving research into Ewing sarcoma in memory of our wonderful Sam
Sam’s Story
Sam was a force of nature – full of joie de vivre. He was fun, loving and lovable with a very wide circle of friends. He ‘worked hard and played hard’, making the most of life.
Sam’s boundless energy fuelled his passion for rugby, running, hiking – virtually any outdoor activity – and he loved to travel, one of his highlights being trekking in the Himalayas. He was a big music fan with an eclectic taste and spent many happy hours going to festivals, concerts and clubs or just listening anywhere.
His approach to life was straightforward: to appreciate the beauty in life; live each day as if it were his last and to help everyone he could along the way. He was pretty successful at this right up until his death from Ewing sarcoma on 16 May 2020, aged 23.
When Sam was eventually diagnosed with Ewing's in July 2018, there were already tumours throughout his body but Sam never shied away from the challenge facing him. Instead he met it with determination, courage, grace and, more often than not, humour. Nor did he let his life be defined by cancer - he continued to live it in his own inimitable style.
If you want to get to know Sam better, have a listen to his podcast or read this tribute by St John's College, University of Cambridge.
Fitzy's Fund - remembering Sam, remembering forgotten cancers
The aim of ‘Fitzy’s Fund’ is to raise awareness of lesser known forgotten cancers – such as sarcomas and bone cancer - which are overlooked, underfunded and under-researched.
Money raised will fund much needed research into Ewing sarcoma where current treatments are limited and survival rates for metastatic disease are dismal.
News
£100,000 raised in memory of Sam Fitzsimmons
Devoted friend keeps his promise
St John’s Redboys take on backwards bear crawling challenge
Research
New funding scheme launched to offer additional support of ongoing clinical trials
New international clinical trial for Ewing sarcoma patients
Bone Cancer Research Trust funds EURO EWING Consortium
Research finds marker to predict prognosis in Ewing sarcoma
Can we provide a scientific basis to enable personalised treatments for Ewing sarcoma patients?
Q&A with Professor Aykut Üren about our newly awarded and first ever international Ewing sarcoma research project
Advances in Ewing Sarcoma Research 2022
Fundraising Pages
Follow on Instagram
Memories of Sam and our fundraising
Text BCRT FITZY TO 70800 to give £5
*Text donation costs the donation amount + standard network rate. Fitzy’s Fund will receive 100% of your donation.
You can make a donation or pay in funds raised by cheque, payable to Bone Cancer Research Trust, to Bone Cancer Research Trust, 10 Feast Field, Horsforth, Leeds, LS18 4TJ. Please ensure you make it clear that the donation is for Fitzy’s Fund so that your donation is allocated to the correct fund.
100% of donations to Fitzy’s Fund will go to Ewing sarcoma research.