A heartbroken family has vowed to keep the promise they made to a "popular and lovable" son and friend who tragically passed away at the age of 20.
Tom Linton from County Durham was diagnosed with melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer, in January 2020, Chronicle Live reports.
He was just 19 at the time and passed away months later in May just after his 20th birthday.
But the selfless son asked his family to grant his final wish - to promise him they would raise awareness of melanoma so that no other person would have to go through what he went through.
And now together with the charity MelanomaMe and its founder Kerry Rafferty, his family is organising Tom's Fest to pay tribute to his life and raise awareness of melanoma.
His mum Amanda Linton, 48, described how Tom's final days were restricted due to the coronavirus lockdown but said he was just grateful to be home with her, his dad Steven, 50, and twin sister Hannah, 21.
She said: "It was hard for him because we were in full lockdown so he couldn't see his girlfriend or friends but throughout it all, he never complained.
"He was so grateful to be at home with me and his dad and Hannah.
"Tom said: 'Will you promise me you will go to Melanoma-Me', and I promised I would.
"He then said: 'Will you promise me that nobody will go through this' and that was his final wish."
The mum explained how Tom started feeling unwell a month before Christmas in 2019 and started losing weight.
But after suffering pain in his chest, Tom was rushed to A&E and developed spots on his body which concerned doctors.
Amanda said: "Tom did not look well and he started developing these little blue spots on his chest. The doctor said he had never seen anything like that in his life and sent him for a scan."
The family said they were going backwards and forwards to the doctors but yet still had no answers as to what was wrong until Tom collapsed and was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Amanda said: "Tom said he was going to go bowling with his friends but he didn't look well. I had this horrible feeling that something was going to happen.
"Then I got a phone call from Tom. He said: 'Mum I'm at the QE', he had passed out.
"The doctors said they were going to scan him and I just knew something was not right. He was scanned again and that was when they found out there was cancer in his liver, his kidneys, and his lungs.
"They had to find the primary cause because it was all in organs and it had to have come from somewhere so they took a biopsy from the blue dots.
"I was rubbing his arm as he was in pain and I noticed a mole on his arm. The doctor said he thought it definitely came from that mole."
Tom was diagnosed with melanoma in January 2020 but the cancer had already spread quickly and sadly his condition deteriorated.
Paying tribute to her son, Amanda said he "touched the hearts of everyone he met" and is still a huge part of people's lives.
She said: "Tom was a very lovable child, he was very popular and had lots of friends at all three schools and sixth form.
"He was very compassionate, he didn't like any nastiness, he wanted everybody to be treated the same.
"Nobody had anything bad to say about him. He touched the hearts of everyone he met.
"He is still a huge part of people's lives. Tom's wish was to be buried so he's buried near where we live and lots of people and all his friends still go to see him.
"He was just somebody that everybody loved and once you had been with Tom, you felt so much better."
Kerry Rafferty founded the charity MelanomaMe after being diagnosed with melanoma herself and now provides counselling to those affected by the disease along with a small team.
Together with Tom's family, she is raising awareness of signs to look out for and is helping to organise Tom's Fest.
Amanda added: "Tom loved music, that was his life so he would be absolutely buzzing we're holding this event.
"We want to keep Tom's legacy alive but, most of all, keep the promise we made him."
Tom’s Fest will be held on May 28 at Park View School, in Chester Le-Street, where Tom attended, and will feature bands, tribute acts, and food stalls.
Tickets for Tom’s Fest will cost £20 and are available here.
The charity is also looking for sponsors for the event. Anyone interested should email: mmfound18@gmail.com
