'Huge' The Wanted fan from Fenland is fundraising in memory of band member Tom Parker

A ‘huge’ fan of The Wanted, who received a surprise visit from the boy-band at her 18th birthday party, is continuing Tom Parker’s fight to raise funds for Brain Tumour Research.

Kayleigh Henshaw, of Chatteris, is an original fan of The Wanted, having supported them for the past 12 years.

The 29-year-old, who works in retail management, met the band a few times and even received a surprise visit from them on her 18th birthday, a date she shares with band member Siva Kaneswaran.

She said: “They were involved in this TV series called BlackBerry: Live & Lost where they had to get from Dover to Leeds with nothing but £20, a BlackBerry and the help of their fans.

“They said they were accepting people’s help so I got in touch and said it was going to be my birthday whilst they were doing it.

“They said they weren’t going to be in my area but they would send me free concert tickets and, because I was under 18 at the time, they needed to get permission from my parents.

“Then they called my mum and set everything up behind my back so it was a massive surprise. Tom Parker and Max George even spent the night at my gran’s house.”

She added: “The first time I met them was at school when they were doing a school tour to try to get a bit of a following.

“I loved their music but after meeting them and realising how nice they were, I just wanted to meet them again and again.

“They also remembered me; when they came to my 18th, as soon as they met my mum, they knew who the party was for.

“The next time I met them was when they were doing a radio tour in Lincoln after getting a number one with All Time Low, which is still one of my favourite songs.”

Kayleigh last saw The Wanted two and a half weeks before lead singer Tom’s death from a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), at an ‘amazing’ performance in Birmingham.

She said: “You could tell Tom wasn’t well but he really wanted to be there.”

She added: “The day he died, I finished work at 6pm and saw I had lots of text messages from friends saying ‘it’s Tom, he’s gone’ and I just burst into tears.”

Since Tom’s diagnosis in October 2020, he helped to raise awareness of the devastation caused by brain tumours and established himself as a passionate advocate for more research. He died on 30 March at the age of 33.

Inspired by the singer’s campaigning for greater investment in research, Kayleigh has signed up to take part in the Brain Tumour Research Jog 26.2 Miles in May Challenge, which she plans to complete during a week she has off work.

She said: “I’m not active and I don’t run at all so this is definitely a challenge for me, but I’m determined and want to raise as much money as possible. I’ve set my fundraising target at £500 but am hoping to absolutely smash that.”

She added: “I’m trying to do what he would be doing if he was still here, raising money and awareness for brain tumour research. He was a force to be reckoned with. If he believed in something he did something about it.”

The miles for this challenge can be completed however and with whoever participants like. Whether it’s jogging around the local park or running track, clocking up the miles on a treadmill or doing laps of the garden, the possibilities are endless. Registrants can complete this virtual challenge in a way that suits them and at their own pace. For example, they could jog a different distance each day in May, to make up a total of 26.2 miles by the end of the month. Or, they could even choose to complete a full marathon in one go.

To take part, join the Jog 26.2 Miles in May Facebook Group and follow the three simple steps to get started. Once registered, Brain Tumour Research will send you a free gift and printed mile tracker. If you raise £274 or more, you’ll receive a special medal in June, once you’ve completed your challenge.

Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “Tom’s tragic death was a stark reminder of the fact that brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer yet, historically, just one per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease. We’re determined to change that and are so grateful for supporters like Kayleigh who, by taking part in challenges like this, will enable us to continue funding vital research and, ultimately, find a cure. It’s a testament to Tom’s memory that he continues to influence others in this way.”

Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK. It also campaigns for the Government and the larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, to find a cure. The charity is the driving force behind the call for a national annual spend of £35 million in order to improve survival rates and patient outcomes in line with other cancers such as breast cancer and leukaemia and is also campaigning for greater repurposing of drugs.

To support Kayleigh’s fundraising, visit www.facebook.com/donate/667253527714251.