🚨 Heartfelt news about a true warrior and hero, Dave Smith. A Paralympic gold medallist and OBE recipient, Dave, aged 47, has sadly been told that he has only months to live due to a spinal tumour that’s spread to his brain.
Dave, who has achieved so much in his life, is facing this challenge with the same grit and determination that earned him gold at the 2012 Paralympics in rowing. Despite being paralysed from the neck down, he communicates using a voice-activated system. He shared, “On Thursday, I was moved to palliative care and was told that I have four months to live. I’m going to fight with every will in my body, but I’m also aware my time on this planet is coming to an end.”
His journey has been nothing short of inspiring. Born in the Scottish Highlands with a club foot, he went through numerous surgeries as a child, yet nothing could stop him from chasing his dreams. He recalls feeling humbled seeing his image at Kingussie High School, serving as a reminder to young dreamers that anything is possible.
Last year, what Dave thought were just symptoms from watching ‘too much TV’ turned into a devastating diagnosis. Blurred vision and fatigue led to the discovery of multiple tumours, confirmed only after he grew increasingly withdrawn and had surgery in October.
Always a fighter, Dave is still planning for the future—hoping to gift his gold medal to Newtonmore Primary School, showing that even from a small Highland village, you can touch the world.
“I didn’t realise the next time I will be returning home might possibly be for my funeral. I feel this is harder for my family and friends than it is for me since I feel like I’ve had so much time to prepare for this.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with Dave Smith and his family during this challenging time. Let’s all celebrate his incredible spirit and achievements. 🌟💪 Keep fighting, Dave! 🏆💖 #Hero #Paralympian #DaveSmith