As most of you know Tommy Rawsthorne is one of the nicest, kind hearted guys you could meet! He is a guy whose honest, speaks the truth, kind, caring and who doesn't deserve to be in the situation.

In July 2013 as Tom was ready to embark on a trip of a lifetime travelling with a friend round the world he became seriously ill. Tests showed he had an extremely rare form of cancer, germ cell, a grapefruit sized mass was attached to his heart and secondary tumours had grown on his lungs. Tom spent the next 3 months receiving a very aggressive chemotherapy at Addenbrooks Hospital and had open heart surgery to remove the mass at Papworth on Friday 13th December 2013. Tom fought back to fitness over the next year when his disease went into remission. Over the next 3 years Tom worked extremely hard to get his life back on track returning to work while being monitored regularly at Addenbrooks.

Having defied the odds of beating stage 4 cancer Tom took a huge step and purchased his first home in September 2017. However a week before he was due to move in Tom began to struggle with pain and began coughing up blood. Doctors confirmed the cancer had returned and the situation was extremely serious, a large and mature mass was found in his Liver, with secondary cancers in the lungs and his spine. The news was devastating and this was compounded as despite in depth tests the specialists struggled to give an exact diagnosis making treatment and outlook almost impossible. Despite this Tom was referred to St Bart’s in London for immediate treatment. It began with a highly aggressive chemotherapy which after 1 month and further tests the consultants decided that the original diagnosis was wrong and decided to treat the cancer as Stage 4 Melanoma. Immunotherapy was administered for 3 months and the result showed that the cancer had continued to grow and spread. A different type of immunotherapy was tried and the news was again, this had not worked either as the cancer had spread further. During this time Tom has had numerous infections and debilitating side effects along with an impending compression of the spinal cord leaving him at times unable to move and many stays in hospital. Tom has battled daily with incredible pain and all that comes with battling this disease. Whilst still living his life as fully as possible and always looking forward with a positive attitude. In August 2018 he received the worst news that the treatments have not worked and the cancer is terminal. Tom needs to be cared for and supported as he and all his family and friends come to terms with this devastating diagnosis. Financially trying to stay independent has been a battle, one that Tom should not have to fight.

Tom should try and enjoy his time to the best that he can and with your help of donating as little or as much as you can it will help take any financial stress and strain off of him and his family. We cannot help take this disease away but as friends and as family we can help take the strain off of Tom helping him with travel costs to and from the hospital, food shopping and possibly even care for Tommy at home. Ladies and Gents please take time to think of Tom and how you could help him. They say charity starts at home.... well let's start with us helping him in his!