News and press

Maureen Thomson: tribute to a Curestarter

We are all deeply saddened at Worldwide Cancer Research to hear about the passing of Maureen Thomson - wife of our founder and original Curestarter, Dr Colin Thomson. The charity was founded by Colin back in 1979, and Maureen played a vital role in the work of the charity – originally coined the Association of International Cancer Research (AICR).

An image of Maureen and Colin Thomson, smiling at the camera
Maureen and Colin Thomson

It was at the family kitchen table in St Andrews that the grand plans for the organisation took shape, with both Colin and Maureen continuing to play a role in the charity’s success until the 2010s.

Following Colin’s passing, Maureen joined the charity’s Board of Trustees in 1998, helping continue Colin’s vision of conquering cancer through innovative discovery research around the world.

The pioneering spirit shared by both Colin and Maureen has seen the charity fund more than £200m of innovative, discovery research projects around the world. It is a mark of their impact that this spirited approach is now baked into our charity’s culture and at the heart of everything we do to this day.

Maureen’s family and loved ones are in the thoughts of the entire team at Worldwide Cancer Research. We have lost a true Curestarter, colleague and friend and we will continue to keep innovation and spirit at the heart of all we do in the years to come.

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