Tom Parker ’s fundraiser has almost tripled its target hours after being launched by his widow Kelsey.
The Wanted singer sadly passed away on Wednesday at the age of 33, surrounded by his family and friends, following a brave battle with brain cancer.
Kelsey, who shares two young children with Tom, created the GoFundMe page in honour of her late husband on Saturday, and asked for donations instead of cards and flowers.
The couple wed in 2018 and a year later, they welcomed their first child - daughter Aurelia Rose.
In October 2020, Tom was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour, and last year, Kelsey gave birth to their son Bodhi.
The page originally began with a £5,000 target, but it smashed through it in under 12 hours, and almost £20,000 has been raised so far.
Kelsey wrote a short statement on the GoFundMe page to explain to his fans why she had chosen to start a fundraiser, and said she wanted to “help others in need” following Tom’s devastating death.
“Our hearts are truly broken, Tom was the centre of our world and we can't imagine life without him, but one of the biggest sources of comfort over the last two years has been the outpouring of love and support we've all received,” she wrote.
Kelsey thanked Tom’s fans for thinking of their family while Tom was battling cancer, and for “lighting candles and sharing beautiful messages of hope and condolence”.
“We want to take everyone's incredible love, support and generosity and turn our grief into something positive and to keep Tom's memory alive forever,” she wrote.
Kelsey said the proceeds would be “going to amazing causes in Tom's name, to help others in need”.
“We simply couldn't have got through the last two years without the help and support we have received and if we can offer it back to others that would be the best way to honour Tom and make our two children, Aurelia and Bodhi proud,” she shared.
In a poignant and heartbreaking sign off, Kelsey added: “If love alone could have saved Tom, he would have lived forever.”
