As fans paid tribute to Tom Parker who has passed away at the age of 33, we remember the time he made friends with a Scots mum on the cancer ward.
The Wanted star's wife Kelsey today announced the tragic news that her husband had died after a battle with a brain tumour.
We reported last year how Tom met fellow patient Lori Houlihan in a London hospital as both were undergoing treatment for the same inoperable glioblastoma brain tumour.
Aberdeen born Lori, who was vice provost of University College London, found a new friend in charttopper Tom and their special rapport was seen in Tom’s emotive documentary Inside My Head.
Lori referred to herself and Tom as “treatment buddies” and they were described as kindred spirits by her eighteen year old daughter Poppy,
When Lori passed away in April, Poppy called Tom to let him know.
She said of their special bond: “When Mum was diagnosed, she saw her illness as something that had happened to her so that she could do something to help improve things – and Tom is the same.
“Tom and my mum were definitely kindred spirits.”
Lori was unaware just how famous her newfound friend was and the two had a natural friendship based on their shared experience.
Poppy, a university student, said: “They met because they had a glioblastoma but also because of Covid.
Covid meant Tom couldn’t have his wife with him during treatment – especially as she was pregnant at the time of his diagnosis – and Mum couldn’t have her family with her either.
“My mum loved to chat, started talking to Tom and they just became friends from there.
When they were talking one day, he mentioned he was in a boyband. I remember her coming home and saying to me, ‘Have you ever heard of The Wanted?’
"I looked them up to show her and played her some songs. The fact Tom was in a band didn’t make any difference to her.
“I remember Mum buying presents for his two little ones. They were like a little support system for each other.
Like Tom, Poppy's mum was keen to see advances in the treatment offered to those diagnosed with glioblastoma.
She said: “When Mum learned the treatment offered to patients with a glioblastoma hasn’t changed in 30 years unless you go down the private route for so-called ‘experimental’ treatment, she knew she had to do what she could to raise money to fund medical research.
“While Mum set up her glioblastoma research fund, Tom set up his charity concert at the Royal Albert Hall and made his documentary.”
Poppy attended The Wanted gig hosted by DJs Roman Kemp and Sonny Jay and featured Ed Sheeran, Liam Payne.
When Tom heard that Lori had died he was upset - and his emotions were shown on the documentary.
Poppy said: “When Mum died, I knew I had to let Tom know and he has kept in touch. He is an absolutely lovely man – very sweet.
"My mum was amazing too. She was a real advocate for change. As part of her working life, Mum had raised more than £600million through her fundraising capabilities for UCL and different charities.
“Almost as soon as she was diagnosed, she set up a fund to raise money for research into glioblastoma. So far the fund has raised £250,000.
"She knew average life expectancy for glioblastoma was a year but she survived for 23 months and, right up until very near the end, she lived life to the full.”
Lori’s husband Dominic, a professor emeritus at Aberdeen University, added: “Lori was at the height of her powers when she was struck down by sudden seizures and diagnosed with glioblastoma.
“I think what shines through for me was her courage.”
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