THE friends and family of Devauden teenager Tom Walker are aiming to raise £100,000 in his memory to fund a research project close to their hearts.
Tom was a pupil at Monmouth School for Boys and his unexpected death in June, aged 13, has been felt by his family, friends and the local community.
After consulting Tom’s family, Cancer Research Wales is now planning to launch a dedicated fund in Tom's name to pay for a research project into leukaemia.
A three-year PhD studentship requires around £100,000 in funding, and Tom’s family and friends are organising events to make this research project a reality.
(Tom Walker, pictured here with his sister Holly, was a keen swimmer)
“As a family, we are very keen to establish a PhD student post in the near future,” said Tom’s mum, Debbie Walker.
“We think this is an incredibly positive project which honours Tom’s memory and helps to move forward the ultimate goal of a Wales without cancer.
“Instead of the money we have raised so far merging into Cancer Research Wales’ general funds, it will be ringfenced and used solely for this research project.
“Tom’s fundraising page stands at just over £21,000 and we will continue our efforts with further fundraising.”
At the forefront of the fundraising campaign are Tom's sisters, Holly and Emily.
Holly, 12, is organising a swimathon, called Swim for Tom, which will take place on Sunday, January 6, 2019.
The swimathon is backed by Cancer Research Wales and will take place in the pool at Monmouth School for Girls.
The event will cover a distance of 430km – equivalent to the length of the River Wye and back.
Tom’s dad, Tim Walker, said: “We will need people to take part, [and] volunteers to count the lengths that are swum and help with the organisation of the day.
“Everyone – either as an individual or as a team – is welcome to take part in what will be a special and memorable day.”
(Emily Walker during her Hallowe'en fundraiser)
10-year-old Emily raised more than £100 by organising a Hallowe'en hat competition at Monmouth School Girls’ Prep on Friday, November 2.
Tom was himself a committed fundraiser for charity, and raised several hundred pounds for Cancer Research Wales by taking part in a night hike up Pen y Fan, less than three months before he died and before he knew he had leukaemia.
A keen musician and swimmer, Tom had also been learning to row on the River Wye.
(The Monmouth School for Boys J-16 coxed VIII rowers)
In September, a team of rowers from Tom's school rowed across Loch Ness to raise money for a new boat, which they named in his honour.
READ MORE: Monmouth schoolboys' Loch Ness race raises £2,700
For more information about the Swim for Tom event, e-mail: swimfortom@gmail.com and online donations can be made by visiting: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/swimfortom
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