THE wife of the late Wanted popstar Tom Parker has announced a football match in his memory.
The sporting tournament – the second of its kind – will mark two years since the singer’s tragic passing aged 33.
Glad You Came hitmaker Tom died following a brave battle with brain cancer, leaving behind wife Kelsey, 33, and their kids Aurelia, four, and Bodhi, three.
The fundraiser comes shortly after Kelsey marked the two-year anniversary of Tom’s death this month with a sweet tribute message.
Tom was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour in 2020 and given just 18 months to live.
But the courageous star beat the odds after undergoing several gruelling rounds of chemotherapy and 30 radiotherapy sessions.
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A year after his death, Kelsey hosted the first Tom Parker Charity Football Match at Bromley Football Club.
Last year, the sporting event raised cash to raise awareness for stage four glioblastoma brain cancer – the exact same condition from which Tom passed.
She told how she didn’t want her kids to “feel sadness” – so will be hosting a second game on Father’s Day, June 16.
In an emotional confession she told MailOnline: “March is such a difficult month for us as a family.
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“I can’t actually believe that in just a couple of weeks it will be two years since we lost Tom.
“It’s so strange as some days I feel like it only happened yesterday, and then on others I feel like so much time has gone by since we last saw him and it just breaks my heart.
“I think about him every single day and that won’t ever change.”
On the reasoning for a second charity match, Kelsey added: “One thing I promised myself and Tom was to continue his legacy. Brain tumours kill more children and adults under 40 than any other cancer.
“That is more than leukaemia, prostate and breast cancer, yet the government only gives brain tumour research 1 per cent of its funding.
“More needs to be done and I feel like when Tom passed he handed the baton over to me to continue raising awareness and funding. We can’t keep losing our children, husbands, wives, parents, brothers and sisters to this cancer.
“So as part of Tom’s legacy, we will be holding a second charity football match in his honour this Father’s Day.
“It’s a great way for Rae and Bo to remember and celebrate their dad, I don’t want them to feel sadness.”
She then added she “can’t wait” to reveal the star-studded line-up.
At the time, Kelsey told The Sun: “It is with the heaviest of hearts that we confirm Tom passed away peacefully earlier today with all of his family by his side.
“Our hearts are broken.
“Tom was the centre of our world and we can’t imagine life without his infectious smile and energetic presence.”
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Meanwhile earlier this month actress Kelsey – who has found love again with boyfriend Sean – shared a sweet video montage as a tribute.
Writing next to the video, she posted: “Today is the first day of March and it brings with it the painful reminder that this is the month lost Tom’.
“I still can’t quite believe it is almost two years since he passed. I know he is watching over me and the kids every day, but his physical absence from our lives is so huge.”
She continued: “I miss his banter and his laugh so much. I’d do anything to have one more day with him.
I think about him every single day, and I think March will always be a difficult month.
“March is also Brain Tumour Awareness month and tonight at 7.30pm I will be lighting a candle in Tom’s memory and also for all the other families affected by this devastating disease.
“Please join me and @braintumourrsch in raising awareness and funding so brain tumours can stop taking away our husbands, wives, parents, siblings, grandparents and our children.”
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Before adding: “We will beat this. Sending love and light to anyone experiencing grief Kels xx.”
Previously, Kelsey admitted she fell in love “at first sight” with Tom as a teenager, long before he and The Wanted bandmates Max George, Jay McGuiness, Siva Kaneswaran, and Nathan Sykes became famous with a string of hit songs.
