ABOUT THE FOUNDATION
In 2014, Dave Bolton — former World Kickboxing Champion — suffered a severe seizure at home. He stopped breathing. When he came round, doctors confirmed he had a tennis ball-sized tumour in the frontal lobe of his brain. He was diagnosed with an Astrocytoma Diffuse II and given five years to live.
One year later, a second tumour was found. This time a Glioblastoma Multiforme IV — the most aggressive form of brain tumour, and the biggest killer of under-40s in the world. His prognosis: three months. Dave refused to let cancer define his future.
Rather than stepping back, he stepped forward. He retrained as a Cancer Pre/Rehabilitation Specialist Coach, threw himself into research across exercise, nutrition and therapy, and set about rebuilding his health on his own terms. Today, he is in the top 0.0000150602409639% of world survivors for a Stage 4 Glioblastoma Multiforme 4 IDH1 Wildtype.
In 2021, alongside former professional footballer and fellow brain tumour survivor Dominic Matteo, Dave turned that experience into a foundation – so that no one facing a cancer diagnosis has to figure it out alone.
WHAT WE DO
Ahead of the Game Foundation exists to support people affected by cancer and long-term health conditions caused by cancer, its treatment or surgery.
We provide a fully funded Health and Wellbeing Cancer Rehabilitation Programme, delivered by qualified specialist coaches. Our programme helps people rebuild physical strength, restore mental wellbeing and develop the emotional resilience needed to move forward – whether they’re preparing for treatment, recovering from it, or learning to live with its lasting effects.
Alongside one-to-one rehabilitation support, we offer educational workshops on the physical and emotional impact of cancer, and connect individuals with specialist services including mental health counselling and nutritional guidance.
We know that cancer doesn’t just affect the person diagnosed. It affects whole families. That’s why our support extends to loved ones, carers and children too – helping everyone navigate the fear, uncertainty and emotional strain that a cancer diagnosis brings.
Every donation, every partnership and every act of support helps us reach more people at the moment they need it most.
Our Focus on Brain Tumours
Brain tumours are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in adults and children under 40 – yet they receive less than 1% of the national cancer research funding. It’s a disparity that has long needed a louder voice.
Alongside our rehabilitation work, Ahead of the Game Foundation actively supports brain tumour awareness with Dave previously speaking to the Lords and MP’s in Westminster as part of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Brain Tumours (APPGBT).
Our impact is measured in lives changed, confidence rebuilt and hope restored.
We are proud to support people locally, nationally and internationally — creating a community built on compassion, strength and shared experience.