Tom was a gorgeously handsome athletic 27 year old when he was diagnosed with a brutal form of bone cancer called Ewing Sarcoma. After a courageous battle lasting 12 months, Tom closed his beautiful green eyes forever.

Tom’s passing left a huge void in our lives, a void impossible to fill which we’ve tried to come to terms with by participating in fitness events such as Run Melbourne, presented by The Age.

Participating in Run Melbourne has enabled family and friends who all adored Tom to band together to honour Tom’s memory and to raise awareness and funds for sarcoma research. As we run or walk Tom’s spirit carries us all, including his sprightly 82 year-old ‘step’ grandmother, over the finishing line.

No-one should suffer like Tom did. Through our efforts, we hope that other families can be spared the pain and devastation inflicted by sarcoma.

Sarcoma cancers are a group of unforgiving cancers with a high mortality rate that disproportionately target young people. Approximately 20% of childhood cancers are sarcomas. Tragically, 50% of sarcoma patients die within five years of diagnosis. Because sarcoma cancers do not have the high profile that many other cancers have, they do not attract government funding. It is left to us, family and friends, to do the best we possibly can.

All funds we raise are donated to the Rainbows for Kate Foundation which funds research specifically into sarcoma cancers. The research is carried out by the Australian Sarcoma Study Group (ASSG) spearheaded by Dr David Thomas and his team from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.

Every dollar raised brings us a step closer to solving the mystery of sarcoma.

Thank you Run Melbourne for the opportunity to support such a great cause in Tom’s memory.