Research fund opens in memory of caring teenager

September 13, 2019

A research fund in memory of a quiet, considerate and caring Monmouth student has officially opened.

People can now apply for the three-year Tom Walker Cancer Wales PHD Studentship for Acute Myeloid Leukaemia Research.

Tom’s parents, Tim and Debbie, sisters Holly and Emily and the Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools community raised more than £100,000 to fund the studentship.

All applications must be submitted to Cancer Research Wales by 9am on Friday 8th November 2019.

Tom, a pupil at Monmouth School for Boys, was the youngest of 90 people who defied cold and wet conditions in March 2018 to tackle the Brecon Beacons Night Hike to raise vital funds for Cancer Research Wales.

Less than three months later Tom, a keen swimmer for his school and Monnow Swimming Club, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia.

Tragically, Tom, who was learning to row on the River Wye, failed to recover from an operation required to start treatment into the condition and he died the day after his diagnosis.

Since Tom’s sudden death his family, friends and the Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools’ community have united to raise money for Cancer Research Wales.

In October 2018, Cancer Research Wales announced it would set up a fund in Tom’s memory and, remarkably, the £100,000 target was reached within just 11 months.

The project is set to begin no later than October 2020.

The appointed student and host laboratory will keep in touch with Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools and community groups throughout the project.

Meanwhile, fund-raising in Tom’s memory will continue with further individual and school-led events planned, including the second Swim for Tom on 12th January 2020.

For full details about the studentship, please visit: https://www.cancerresearchwales.co.uk/research/available-grants/tom-walker-aml-studentship/