CAPTION: Simon Thomas says he is looking forward to the exhibition in Exeter
Sports Presenter Simon Thomas to Open Christian Resources Exhibition South West 2022
The former Blue Peter and Sky Sports presenter Simon Thomas is to open the Christian Resources Exhibition South West at Exeter’s Westpoint showground on Wednesday 23 February.
Simon, 49, whose wife Gemma died suddenly in 2017 from acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) just four days after being diagnosed, has dedicated himself to increasing awareness of the illness.
He launched the Gemma Thomas Fund to raise awareness and money for research and is president of Blood Cancer UK.
He said “I want to make sure more people are made aware of the signs and symptoms of all blood cancers so we can improve early diagnosis and give people a fighting chance.
“I have known about CRE for some years and will be delighted to see, at last, the many ways the exhibitors help the Church in its mission.”
Simon is the son of a Church of England vicar who died last year and currently presents football coverage on Prime Video.
There are due to be more than 100 exhibitors at CRE South West, including the Diocese of Exeter’s Growing the Rural Church team and Devon Church Weddings.
The show runs over two days on 23 and 24 February.
Areas covered include new technology, financial management, fund-raising, safeguarding, cyber security, mission, youth and children’s work – all helping churches recover from and build beyond the pandemic.
Expert advice will be on hand in 40 seminars with speakers including the Bishop of Crediton, the Rt Rev’d Jackie Searle; the Archdeacon of Exeter, the Venerable Andrew Beane, Canon Sarah Yardley of Creation Fest, Paul Friend of South-West Youth Ministries and Tim Moyler of Agapé UK.
The Bishop of Exeter, the Right Reverend Robert Atwell, said “The Christian Resources Exhibition was last in Devon in 2015 and much has happened at local church level since then.
“It is a great opportunity to access new resources, ideas and practical tools to meet the many challenges of local ministry.”
A short introductory video to CRE SW can be viewed here.
You can book tickets here.
