200 people sign up for charity swimathon

Around 200 people have already signed up to take part in a charity swimathon in Monmouth next month.

The inaugural Swim for Tom raised more than £25,000 for Cancer Research Wales and attracted over 600 participants and around 100 volunteers.

Now the second Swim for Tom is being held on Sunday 12th January in Monmouth School for Girls' Swimming Pool between 10am and 9pm.

"Swim for Tom is progressing well," said Tom's mum, Debbie Walker.

"We now have 200 swimmers registered, but still need more.

"Mandarin Stone have very kindly agreed to be our hat sponsor and the swimming hat company we use has very generously agreed, as last year, to produce the hats at cost price."

Tom Walker was a pupil at Monmouth School for Boys and a member of Monnow Swimming Club.

He died unexpectedly and suddenly from leukaemia in June 2018, aged 13.

Since his death, his family – parents, Tim and Debbie; and sisters Holly and Emily – have led efforts to raise £100,000 to set up a research fund, supported by Tom's friends and school community.

The £100,000 target was smashed in just 11 months and The Tom Walker Cancer Wales PhD Studentship for Acute Myeloid Leukaemia Research was launched earlier this year.

The studentship received four applications and the successful candidate will be chosen for the research project early in the new year.

"Please come and join us for a joyous and fun swimathon and, at the same time, raise money for Cancer Research Wales," said Tom's sister, Holly, and her friend Katie Cameron, who are organising the event.

To take part in Swim for Tom, please visit: http://swimfortom.uk/