Night hike raises more than £28,000 for charity 

March 25, 2019

A total of 240 people followed in a teenager’s footsteps to scale one of Wales’ highest peaks, raising over £28,000 for Cancer Research Wales.

Tom  was the youngest of 90 people who defied cold and wet conditions to tackle the first Brecon Beacons Night Hike last year.

Family, friends and teachers retraced the steps of the young Monmouth School for Boys’ pupil who died last June, aged 13, from leukaemia, on Friday night (22nd March).

It was a special evening, with wonderful camaraderie from all those who scaled Pen y Fan.

And Tom’s youngest sister, Emily, a pupil at Monmouth School Girls’ Prep, gave a moving and inspirational speech.

The money raised from the hike will go towards the cost of funding a three-year £100,000 PhD research project, set up by Tom’s family with support from Cancer Research Wales, into Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.

The event organiser, Mr Dale Evans from Cancer Research Wales, said: “Well done to everyone who took part in this very special and poignant occasion.

“The skies over Brecon had the company of an extra 240 stars who came out to remember a wonderful boy whose life shone so brightly and inspired all. Let’s keep the light shining.”

Tom was a keen swimmer and had been learning to row on the River Wye.

Earlier this year, more than 650 people took part in a 12-hour swimathon, called Swim for Tom, which raised £20,359.76.

Tom’s oldest sister, Holly, a pupil at Monmouth School for Girls, was heavily involved in organising the swimathon and designed the event logo.

In December 2018, his family christened a new rowing boat, called The Otter, in memory of Tom at Monmouth School for Boys’ Rowing Club.

The Otter was bought with funds raised by his friends who rowed Loch Ness in Scotland and with money from Tom’s estate.

The overall tally includes money raised by Emily, who sang in Cwmbran town centre before Christmas (£229.23), a Christmas charity car park run by pupils (£585), and many other events.