A SWIMMING event is being held by Haberdashers Monmouth School, in memory of former student Tom Walker.

Family, friends and students will gather in memory of Tom Walker a former student at Haberdashers Monmouth school in which they will gather to take to the water and swim in this charity event.

Tom Walker on his walk for the Brecon Beacons night hike in aid of Cancer Research Wales
Tom Walker on his walk for the Brecon Beacons night hike in aid of Cancer Research Wales (Debbie Walker )

On Sunday June 29, swimmers will gather at the Haberdashers Monmouth Schools Sports Centre to cover the equivalent of the distance from Monmouth to Edinburgh an ambitious 23,580 lengths in one day.

The event was first held in 2019, Swim for Tom which was created by Holly Walker, Katie Cameron and Lou Scott following Tom’s sudden death in June 2018 just one day after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia.

Since the event they raised more than £40,000 for Cancer Research Wales which have supported a PhD scholarship in Tom’s name and vital research into both leukaemia and brain tumours.

The event is being led by Tom’s sister, Emily Walker which will raise money to fund research inspired by work in Theo Morin’s PhD thesis, research which was made possible by earlier Swim for Tom donations.

Swimmers of all abilities are welcome to take part and each participant will be given a colour-coded Swim for Tom hat and commemorative otter badge, they will also receive t-shirts which have been donated by Cancer Research Wales.

The day will be full of community atmosphere which reflects Tom’s generous and uplifting spirit.

Every stroke on the day brings them one step closer to better treatments and it keeps Tom’s legacy alive in the most meaningful way.

Tickets are now open at Ticket Source and a suggested donation of £10 is invited from all swimmers and volunteers.

The closing date to get the donations in by is June 27.