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Daily Record
Daily Record
Entertainment
Magdalene Dalziel

Tom Parker's widow Kelsey praises 'amazing' Ed Sheeran for funding The Wanted star's medical treatment

Kelsey Parker has praised Ed Sheeran as an "unbelievable person" after the singer helped fund her late husband Tom's private medical treatment during his battle against brain cancer.

The mum-of-two hailed the star as "amazing" after his generosity and said he gave their family "more time with Tom".

Kelsey was appearing on Lorraine Kelly's ITV morning show today when she opened up on Shape of You musician Ed's mammoth efforts to assist his old pal in his time of need.

She said: "Ed was just amazing, he's an unbelievable person, what he did for us, for our family, to give me more time with Tom, he didn't need to do that and he didn't even ask for anything from it."

Kelsey Parker appeared on ITV's Lorraine this morning (ITV)

The Wanted star Tom died in March at the age of 33 after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour in October 2020.

He was surrounded by Kelsey and their two children, Aurelia and Bodhi, as well as other family members and his bandmates.

After Scots TV host Lorraine remembered Tom and his many appearances on her daily programme, she smiled and said they "always laughed" together in the studio.

Lorraine added: "He was such a positive guy, he radiated positivity."

Kelsey agreed, adding: "There was so much laughter in our house over the past 18 months since his diagnosis.

"We were genuinely happy."

Kelsey also revealed she'd bought Ed some crystals as a thank you gift, "because what else do you buy someone who has everything".

Tom's memoir Hope: My Inspirational Life, was released after his death, and in it, he chronicled how close friend Ed contacted him not long after his stage four glioblastoma diagnosis to see if he could help in any way, before offering to finance his medical bills.

Tom said: "Pretty much from the moment I was diagnosed, Ed Sheeran, reached out to me with an offer to do anything he could to help.

"Ed and I have known each other since he joined The Wanted on our tour bus during a promotion trip in America more than ten years ago," he continued. "We've always run into each other over the years and had a great relationship.

"I've never publicly said this before (and he'll probably be mad that I'm doing it now) but Ed is a very special man — he even helped out with my medical bills when I was seeking other treatment options and having private immunotherapy."

He added: "He didn't need to do any of that, but my wife Kelsey and I are so grateful to him for his support, it meant the world."

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