Brain Tumour
For the last nine weeks something hadn’t felt right blurred vision sore heads, fatigue, personality changes and sickness after a bike ride in the Alps that required an ambulance.
It wasn’t until I came home from Jamaica that my body really started to turn and on the 9th of October I took very unwell in London and have no real memory of time.
I was incredibly lucky to have family with me who noticed something was seriously wrong and got me into hospital a quick scan later a doctor sent me down and said the words
“you have three tumours inside your brain and one of them is bigger than an orange.”I still can’t process that I flew home from Jamaica with that in my head or that I could’ve died at any moment when I was out playing golf. I could feel myself losing my hold on life and on the 10th of October I went in for my first brain surgery at Queen Square to remove the tumour five days later I needed a second surgery to save my life from fluid blockages.
the surgical team at UCLH were nothing short of incredible and I owe my life and continued life to them
Those early days were a blur. I couldn’t make decisions or understand what was happening. I was completely exhausted but I was surrounded by loved ones who stepped in and carried me through it.
Recovery on the ward was hard and the nights even longer but I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for life more than ever before. I lay awake reflecting on everything I’ve lived in case it was all about to end, my biggest takeaway friends that’s what matters most to me and that’s what helped me the most in the last few weeks grown-up in the Highlands being connected to Scotland the people the mountains the nature community all of it has filled me with joy and strength after the second surgery on the 15th I took an Uber home on the 16th of October and the next day I managed to walk outside recovery will be long as my brain was moved 15 mm from the midline but I’m also happy to be alive and to have another chance at life right now I’m craving Scotland especially the Highlands, but I am learning to live where my feet are feeling blessed. I’m grateful for the beautiful giftof this weeks life
We sat down with athlete @davidsmithmbe who shared his #CancerStory with us 💙
From the London 2012 Olympics to #radiotherapy treatment for #sarcoma, he shares his one piece of advice for anybody that might be going through a similar experience.
Thank you, David — you’re amazing 🌟
#CancerTreatment
Move your body today as if you would not be able to move tomorrow”
At 21 I just wanted to move faster, coincidentally the day this photo was taken, my tumour had already started growing. I had no idea I had a tumour growing inside me.
It would be 10 years later before I was diagnosed, if I had knowing what lay ahead I would have encouraged a young David to saviour the moment more, be more present and to not have taken movement for granted.
It is now 7 years since I was paralysed during surgery number 4, and I no longer can run, actually I can hardly walk, I sit in the park watching people moving and wonder if they know how lucky it is to just have the freedom to move.
I have struggled massively over the last few months and spent many hours sitting looking at a wall as my body struggled to function. So if you have reached out and not heard from me, please bare with me as I find stability to push onwards.
I have never stopped fighting for life since my tumour started growing, and I will fight to my last breath.
Life is such a beautiful gift, but unfortunately it also comes with a level of suffering, with that said, try to leave home each day with compassion, curiosity and courage 🙏❤️🙏
#paralysis #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordtumoursurvivor #nikeathlete #nike #sports
Some weekends remind you what really matters💙
👉🏼Movement. Community. Kindness. Hope.
Watching people come together for @davidsmithmbe and raise £100,000 has been emotional, inspiring, and a reminder to never take our bodies, our health, or each other for granted.
Every step was for something bigger than ourselves.
Thank you to everyone who helped create content and remind Dave how truly Amazon he is🫶
A pleasure to support you on this mission @edjackson8@luke_tarrant
More video to come🙏🏻
#milesfordave #movement #cancer #fundraising
Ep #3 - David Smith MBE
Two Paralympic golds. Seven spinal surgeries. Fourteen years of a rare spinal tumour that keeps coming back.
By the time we hit record, Dave wasn’t searching for a cure anymore. He was searching for contentment. He talks about what it means to be a man when the sport, the medals, the fight, even the ego that kept him alive, is no longer yours to hold.
It’s the most honest conversation about identity, ego and mortality either of us have ever been part of.
Right now Dave is fighting again, and right on cue, defying the odds. Which feels about right for him.
In this one:
- The ego that got him through seven surgeries, and how he’s learning to put it down.
- Happiness vs contentment, and why chasing the first one nearly broke him.
- Who you are when you’re no longer your “thing”
- The shift from “I” to “we”, and why service became his medicine.
- Making peace with impermanence.
- The 18,400 seconds in a day, and what to do with them.
- Choosing to become softer instead of bitter
We recorded this back in November but now seems a very poignant time to drop it.
Enjoy this conversation with a true legend of resilience and perspective. 🙏
#boyswillbeboys
We’re off in Battersea Park for #milesfordave
Pop down and see us at the Pear Tree Cafe - we’ll be here till 3pm! 🫶🫶
ALSO WE’RE NEARLY AT £100k FUNDRAISING!!!
🫶🫶🫶
✨ MILES FOR DAVE ✨
On 2nd may im running 100 miles for @davidsmithmbe
The most incredible man I have ever met and someone I’m incredibly proud to call a friend
David’s story is absolutely mind blowing and his outlook on life is something that has not only helped me but completely reshaped the way I live my own life
He is currently in hospital in London fighting like he always does against a spinal tumour he has been battling for many many years
He is currently paralysed from the shoulders down but in true David smith style he is fighting back
On the may bank holiday weekend one of David’s friends @edjackson8 , another incredible man has setup miles for Dave
Where people can get involved in any way they want by going out and moving there body and raising money for our hero
Ed has also arranged an event in Battersea park on the Sunday where anyone can turn up and clock up some miles around the park for David 🙌🏼 which I will post the details too on my stories
Please, please, please get involved or donate anything you can or even just share the posts and the hashtag #milesfordave 🙏🏼
I can’t begin to describe how much Dave has done for others throughout his life and how important this man is
We all love you David
Keep fighting brother 🩵
“Be where your feet are”
#milesfordave
https://gofund.me/417de229d
Miles For Dave - London In Person Event
Battersea Park
3rd May
9am-3pm (Pear Tree Cafe meet point)
Feel free to join me for the whole 6 hours (If you don’t mind walking slowly) / running for one hour or 5, or, just coming down to say hi and show your support. The more the merrier!
One lap of the park is 2 miles and we’re looking to cover as many as possible together on the day so every lap you can offer counts.
If you can’t make the London event but would like to do something for Dave over the bank holiday weekend do feel free to drop me a comment below or a DM and let me know your plans. I’m going to be setting up a WhatsApp group soon so we can coordinate in order to maximise our support over the weekend.
Thank you to those who have got in touch or donated already. Dave’s been having some further complications in hospital recently but I’ve been sharing how many people want to help and he’s immensely grateful!
We’re using the #MilesForDave so he can keep track of everything.
If anyone has any other ideas of how they may be able on the day or sourcing sponsors it would be very much appreciated if you could reach out. 🫶🫶
Miles for Dave.
While Dave’s in hospital fighting, we want to do our bit to support someone who has done so much for others during his life.
The most important thing is the fundraising to give him the best possible chance but we also want to show him some love by getting out and doing what he loves best on his behalf while he can’t.
I’ve set up a GoFundMe (Miles For Dave) and there are two simple ways to help:
1. Donate�You can donate directly via the link in my bio, and sharing the page helps us spread the word.
2. Do some Miles for Dave over the early May bank holiday (2nd-4th)�Walk, run, cycle, row, wheel, swim - whatever works for you.
Donate, share your story and ask others to support your effort by donating to the same GoFundMe ‘Miles For Dave’ and tagging your name when they donate.
Thank you to everyone who has been in touch already and plans on supporting - I spoke to Dave today and it means a lot to him..🫶
Any questions drop them in the comments below or fire me a DM.
#milesfordave
The most simplest things in life are the most beautiful and the greatest gift we’ve been given is life itself 🫶
New episode of I Got Back Up ✨
David underwent surgery in 2010 to remove a tumour inside his spinal cord. However during surgery 4, he was left paralysed on his left side.
An athlete who won gold 🥇 for Team GB at the 2012 Paralympics, in 2025 David found out he had four tumour inside his brain.
However, David’s outlook on life is tremendous and he constantly reminds himself that ‘he can do hard stuff’
🎧type ‘I Got Back Up’ into where you get your podcasts
I Can Do Hard Stuff: David Smith MBE
#motivation #hope #lifequotes #mindset #podcast
There’s real joy in walking. Just simply moving with freedom, did you feel it today if you walked?
Not the fitness kind. The ordinary, taken-for-granted kind walking that most people do every day.
Last week I pushed it hard. Felt strong. Capable and seen progress.
This week? I’ve paid for it.
A life built on grit, perseverance and discipline has served me incredibly well.
Those values carried me through sport, work, and some very dark moments. But recovery from brain surgery is asking something different of me.
Not more effort.
More balance and more awareness
Learning when stimulus helps… and when recovery is the work.
Learning that restraint can be as brave as pushing.
Learning that progress isn’t always linear and that’s not failure.
Still grateful. Still moving forward. Just at a pace my nervous system can live with this week which also seen me start the new drug.
Wish you a blessed day of walking and awareness ❤️🙏
#nikeathlete #nike #bewhereyourfeetare #gratitude #spinalcordinjury
Using the punch bag isn’t about boxing. it’s something I used for years as a kid to train when I did karate and love to still face it, even if it’s not like it once was.
It’s about balance, focus, and safely overloading the nervous system.
Every strike forces my body to react.
Every shift of weight challenges stability.
Every round trains my brain as much as my muscles.
The goal isn’t fitness for fitness’ sake. Each person is different but I have always approached my cancer as a fight and with a fighters mindset.
This is to live longer, stay independent, and earn my way back to the mountains and the golf course doing the sports I love, on my terms.
This is what training looks like when movement equals freedom and freedom equals life 🙏❤️
One rep at a time we move forward . 🥊⛰️⛳
#karate #boxing #nike #braintumour #spinalcordinjury
