Remembering Andrew Winterbottom

Today, it is with great sadness that we remember the death of Andrew Winterbottom, the founder of Fight Bladder Cancer UK. Andrew died on 31 May 2019 after a diagnosis of bowel cancer in 2018. It is poignant that he died on the last day Bladder Cancer Awareness Month, which he saw develop into a global movement.

In October 2018, Andrew Winterbottom revealed he had a terminal diagnosis and stepped down from his day-to-day management of Fight Bladder Cancer to concentrate on his own health.

He is profoundly missed by everyone who knew him. It is a huge achievement to have founded Fight Bladder Cancer for fellow patients. It has provided love, comfort, information and support to thousands of bladder cancer patients and their families.

Since Andrew began the Fight Bladder Cancer after his bladder cancer diagnosis in 2009, his determination and courage have been an inspiration to many. He launched Bubbles for Bladder Cancer, now an annual global event each May, and attended the 2019 meeting of the World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition which he was instrumental in creating.

Supporting the establishment of patient groups across the world

One of the reasons that Andrew Winterbottom helped create WBCPC was to support patients in other countries set up their own patient organisation. That is why we have chosen the anniversary of his passing to launch a new project which is a  Start-up guide for bladder cancer patient groups.

This start-up guide provides tools and resources to patient groups on how to grow and establish themselves. This toolkit supports Andrew’s vision and commemorates the work he has done throughout his life. He would be so proud to see this toolkit launched today.