FAMILY and friends of a boy who died in 2018 will be following in the teenager’s footsteps again by scaling Pen y Fan later this month to fundraise for Cancer Research Wales.

Tom Walker, from Devauden, was the youngest of 90 people to climb the highest peak in south Wales in March 2018 and raised over £700 for cancer research.

Tom died in June 2018, one day after he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia. He was 13.

Since then, Tom’s parents, Tim and Debbie, sisters Holly and Emily, and the community in the Monmouth area, have worked tirelessly to raise more than £130,000 in his memory.

South Wales Argus:

Tom Walker

Mr Walker said climbing the mountain is “poignant”, and is looking forward to climbing it again on Friday, March 20 in memory of Tom, a year after the last hike.

Climbers will hike from the Storey Arms, with the help of professional mountain leaders, before descending via the National Trail.

“Last year we had 240 come to hike and raise money, which was unbelievable,” said Mr Walker. “The community has rallied behind us and the participation we get at the events is touching.

“We can’t thank the people of Devauden, Monmouth and the Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools community enough.”

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The annual Swim for Tom swimathon raised over £13,000 in January, and is one of many events put on in Tom’s memory.

“We’ve tried to make them joyous community affairs rather than sombre, and we do have a good time as a family,” Mr Walker added.

South Wales Argus:

Tim Walker (left) and Adrian Whitehead at the Swim for Tom event in January

Mr Walker also praised the work of his two daughters, who have led the way in raising funds, and have been nominated for a national award to recognise their work.

Holly and Emily, both pupils at Monmouth School for Girls, have been nominated for the Young Fundraiser honour in the Child of Wales Awards at the Celtic Manor Resort on April 3, which recognises the achievements of young people.

“Holly has worked really hard, with the help of others, to put on the Swim for Tom events, while Emily has performed in Monmouth and Cwmbran at Christmas over the last two years to fundraise.”

South Wales Argus:

Emily Walker, centre-left, and Holly Walker, centre, have led fundraising efforts

The hike on March 20 begins at 6.45pm and participants must be over 12 years of age with all under 18s accompanied by a parent or guardian.

The winner of the first £100,000 grant to fund research into acute myeloid leukaemia will be announced by Cancer Research Wales during the event. The money raised from this year’s hike will go towards the cost of a second PhD research project.

To book a place on the Brecon Beacons Night Hike, visit: www.cancerresearchwales.co.uk/crw_events/nighthike