About us

Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Nikki Bowdidge MBE is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Tom Bowdidge Youth Cancer Foundation.

Before founding the charity, Nikki was a primary school teacher. Throughout her career, Nikki has been passionate about supporting and inspiring young people—a passion that continues to drive her work today.

When Tom was diagnosed with cancer, Nikki stood beside him throughout his 13-month treatment journey. Together, they led an incredible fundraising campaign, raising more than £170,000 to improve the lives of teenagers and young adults with cancer. During that time, Tom shared his vision of creating lasting change for other young people facing cancer, and Nikki promised to continue his work and make that vision a reality.

Following Tom’s death in October 2013, Nikki and her husband Richard established the Tom Bowdidge Youth Cancer Foundation in 2014, ensuring that Tom’s legacy would live on by supporting teenagers and young adults with cancer across the UK.

As CEO, Nikki leads the charity’s strategic direction, fundraising, grant-making and partnerships, while remaining closely involved with the young people and families the Foundation supports. Under her leadership, the Foundation has grown into a nationally recognised charity, providing emergency financial grants, practical support and wellbeing initiatives to hundreds of teenagers and young adults every year. Nikki is passionate about ensuring that no young person has to face the financial and emotional burden of cancer alone, and that support is delivered quickly, compassionately and without unnecessary barriers.

In recognition of their dedication to improving the lives of young people with cancer, Nikki and Richard were awarded an MBE in the 2025 New Year Honours for services to young people with cancer. The honour reflects more than a decade of tireless commitment to transforming Tom’s vision into a lasting legacy of hope, compassion and practical support.

Nikki remains inspired every day by the courage and resilience of the young people the Foundation supports. Her determination to honour Tom’s wishes continues to shape everything the charity does, ensuring that every teenager and young adult diagnosed with cancer has someone in their corner when they need it most.

Fundraising Lead

Lindsay joined The Tom Bowdidge Youth Cancer Foundation in January 2021, having spent the past 17 years working in the charity sector for some of the big national charities and then, more recently, for smaller charities.  She is passionate about working in the charity sector and for the Foundation, and has brought some new ideas and experience with her.  Her role encompasses all aspects of fundraising, including marketing.   Having been touched by cancer in her family, she understands how important the Foundation is when supporting teenagers and young adults and their families living with cancer.

Office Administrator

Anita works in the office once a week providing support for the administrative and finance functions required by the Foundation. She is also a regular volunteer on the stand and at events.

Trustee

Richard Bowdidge is Tom’s Father and Co- Founder of The Tom Bowdidge Youth Cancer Foundation. He serves as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees and takes an active role in managing the Foundation, as well as developing and implementing its strategic vision alongside the Chief Executive Officer and the rest of the Board.

Additionally, Richard actively participates in managing and creating fundraising opportunities, including events and corporate partnerships.

Richard works for a Lloyd’s insurance broker in London and is responsible for the management of a specialist team advising corporate clients on their complex insurance requirements. He has worked in the insurance market for some 30 years. Richard has recently taken on the role of Colchester Ambassador.

While Tom was ill, Richard, alongside Nikki, supported him in his fundraising efforts and now takes an enthusiastic part in driving Tom’s vision forward to ensure The Foundation adheres to these founding principles.

Trustee

Nicci has been a Trustee of the Foundation since it was formed and has a successful background in fundraising including raising funds for the Royal National Institute of the Blind for 15 years and in her role as Head of Community Fundraising & National Events at the British Red Cross where she led a team of around 50 people. Nicci holds the Certificate in Fundraising Management.

I am Adam Hildred and I have been married for almost 30 years to Alison, and we have two grown up daughters. I am a Chartered Financial Planner with over 20 years’ experience in giving advice to individuals as well as businesses. My focus is always on ensuring the right outcome for my client, and this can often be within areas they hadn’t previously considered.

My areas of specialism are around advising clients on their tax opportunities and the setting up and running of trusts as well as planning around their investment and retirement strategies, but I can help support clients with all areas of financial planning.

I have previously played an active role in the community having been a school governor, and then chair of governors, for a local independent school.  I have gained many connections through networking in my work and personal life.  I wanted to become a Trustee for a local charity because I was keen to volunteer and give back to children who may not be as fortunate as my own.

Sally is a mother to two grown up daughters.

Her youngest daughter was diagnosed with cancer at just 5 years old. Through this journey Sally has learnt a deep and lasting understanding of the challenges faced by families in times of illness & uncertainty. Sally hopes that this knowledge will help her in her role as trustee.

Sally learnt of Tom’s story from a work colleague and is full of admiration for both Nikki & Richard for the way that they have taken such a tragic event and turned it into something that helps so many young people in Tom’s name.

Trustee

Kirk is 48 years old, is married to wife Jodie and has 3 teenage sons.  His professional career has centred around providing support and education for people with learning difficulties and disabilities.  He set up his first company PALS Ltd in 2006 which provides bespoke 1 to 1 support for people with learning difficulties and disabilities to live their lives to the fullest.  After working as the Head of department for Special Needs provision at Epping Forest College, Kirk realised that there was a distinct lack of consistent support which crossed the threshold of social care and education.

Kirk learnt about Tom’s story from when his wife Jodie worked with Nikki at the time that Tom was diagnosed.  He has always been in awe of Nikki and Richard and the way that that they took such a tragic event and turned it into something, in Tom’s name that continues to benefit so many people, going through such difficult times, despite it invariably serving as a constant reminder of what they themselves went through.  He was honoured to have been invited to become a Trustee in 2023 and looks forward to assisting the charity in any and every way possible.