Inspiration is Infectious

On 16 February, my close friend and mentor, Professor Nicola Fear CBE, died in her mid-fifties.

She is cherished by her husband, Dan, her children Max and Mary, and an enormous number of friends, colleagues, students and researchers who are better at what they do because of her.

Nicola was one of the leading military epidemiologists of her generation. Her research changed what we know about the health and wellbeing of serving personnel, veterans and their families, and influenced policy in the UK and beyond.

But she was also exceptionally good at developing other people.

Nicola spotted talent, and enthusiastically backed people. She opened doors, created opportunities, asked difficult questions and gave younger researchers the confidence to become independent researchers and leaders themselves.

Before she died, Nicola asked for something specific.

She wanted an Occupational Epidemiology Fellowship to be established through The Colt Foundation, giving an early-career researcher protected time to think, learn, ask important questions and do good research.

We need to raise £150,000 to make that happen.

This fundraising page originally started with my attempt to walk the Camino Francés.

I set off in March intending to walk the full route and raise money for the Fellowship as I went. I made it nearly 250km across northern Spain before fracturing my tibia, which brought the walking rather decisively to an end.

I didn't finish the Camino. I did, however, have several weeks in which there was very little to do except walk, think and remember Nic.

And I came home even more certain that the Fellowship mattered.

Because the Camino was never really the point.

Nicola was.

The aim now is simple: to create something she specifically wanted, and to give another researcher the sort of opportunity she gave so generously to others.

If you knew Nicola, worked with her, were taught or supervised by her, collaborated with her, or benefited from her support, I hope you will consider contributing.

If you didn't know her, you can still help create an opportunity for a young occupational epidemiologist whose work may improve the health of workers, military personnel, veterans, families and communities for years to come.

We need to raise £150,000. Donations of any size will help, and so will sharing this page with people who knew Nicola or care about the work she championed.

Nic spent a large part of her career helping other people get started.

We'd like to do that one more time, in her name.

Please help us establish the Professor Nicola Townsend Fear Fellowship in Occupational Epidemiology.

Amy