Tom's Trust was set up in 2011, one year after Tom Whiteley died of a brain tumour aged just 9 years old. Tom and his parents had almost no mental health support through their short 7-month journey, and wanted to ensure that no other family went on this journey unsupported. Clinical Psychologists are now available in the East and North-East of England and soon in the North West from the point of a child’s diagnosis, but 500 children are diagnosed each year, and each of these children and their families need continuing support; we have so much more to do. Tom’s Trust also wants to provide support to parents who sadly lose their child to this terrible disease, which is the biggest cancer killer of children under 16.

I’ve decided to raise money for Tom’s Trust because I know how important its aims are: My aunt survived 2 childhood brain tumours in the 1970s when there was no mental health support for her or her family when they were struggling with the problems and fears surrounding this illness. Neither was there any advice or support about the effect of the surgery on my Aunt’s brain and its processing which would have been so beneficial for her and her family, friends and teachers.

A £1,000 fundraising target would mean a child and up to three family members could be supported for an entire year by a Tom’s Trust psychologist. Its a truly touching legacy to leave.