Andy Smith

summary

Andy Smith is a Professor with a brain tumour and an addiction to cycling. He thinks Ghandi was right when he said that you should ‘live every day as if it was your last but learn every day as if you are going to live for ever’. His talk is intended to be provocative, challenging and stimulating.

biography

Professor Andy Smith FBASES

Up to 2003 Andy was having a fairly normal and moderately successful career as an academic and practising Sport and Exercise Scientist. In 2002 he was made an Honorary Fellow of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences which is ‘the highest professional qualification awarded by the Association. It is awarded to those who have made an exceptional contribution to the field of Sport and Exercise Science’. Early in 2003 he was awarded a Professorship in Exercise and Sport Sciences at York St John University where he is currently the Director of Institutional Advancement.

Then shortly after gaining his Professorship, he was diagnosed as having a very large brain tumor and his world turned upside down. In 2004 this was removed in an 11 hour operation called a craniotomy. Andy cried a lot and was not a ‘brave little soldier’. But he did work very hard at his rehabilitation and when not ‘blubbing like a baby’, developed a wicked sense of humor about his situation. He also learned to ask for, and accept help from other people.

When he first went into rehabilitation it took him 11 seconds to walk 10 meters and was unable to climb stairs, jog or ride a bike. In 2005 after training up to 3 times a day for 12 months, he rode from Land’s End to John O’Groats in just over 10 days and was awarded the Land’s End to John O’Groats Association Committee Cup for ‘a wholly exceptional journey that is worthy of recognition’. A few months later he rode a Tour De France challenge to raise money for the Meningitis Trust. This ride included stages climbing Alpe d’Heuz, Col du Galibier, Col du Madeleine and the Col du Telegraphe.
At the end of 2005 he was made ‘York Pride Person of the Year’ by the Evening Press and City Council sponsored by Norwich Union.

Just when he thought he could relax, an annual MRI scan found that the tumor had started to re-grow.  Thankfully it was still small and was treated in 2006 by stereotactic radio-surgery. Five days after being released from hospital he came last in the best bike race of his life.

Andy’s talks focuses on how to respond to bad times and what you can do to help yourself and others when the storm clouds gather. He draws on his research on motivation and the human spirit, combined with his own experience to explore how to make a comeback from bad times and how to survive tough situations. In doing so, he takes care not to portray himself as a hero, instead focusing on the importance of hard work, humor and asking for help. His presentations are peppered by surprisingly funny stories of life as seen by a Professor with a brain tumor and an addiction to cycling. Andy works hard to tailor his talks to the specific needs and interests of his audience and keeps his material fresh, contemporary, and up-to-date. He is currently interested in how individuals and organisations can make the best of the opportunities hidden in the recession.   

In his Professorial role Andy has written extensively on why some people exercise whilst others are sedentary. This output includes 31 academic papers; 16 magazine articles; 1 co-authored book; 2 book chapters; 3 editorials; 4 online publications; 4 book reviews and 14 newspaper letters. His current research interest is the development of a futurology of sport in which he is attempting to predict how nanotechnology; cyborgs and genetical engineering will change athletic performance.

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Testimonials

“Thank you so much for your wonderful speech at the ball last night. What can I say -  it was inspirational, witty, serious and very moving. All in all brilliant.” Chris Cook 4 April 2009.

“A big thanks to Andy for informative and humorous talk” and ‘Andy was very informative with a good mix of humour and serious messages’.  Feedback from Fitness for Business event on 2 April 2009

“Andy Smith a very good speaker and important messages”
“Andy Smith was brilliant!”
“Excellent presentation by Andy Smith; engaging and motivational”
“Excellent event! Andy Smith’s presentation was very interesting and good fun”
“Andy Smith was amusing, entertaining and informative” Feedback from Fitness for Business event on 12 February 2009

“Someone else who is clearly made of the Right Stuff is Andy Smith.” The York Press Leader 11 October 2006