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Tom Parker’s widow Kelsey campaigned for more money for brain tumor research in the UK during an appearance on Monday’s BBC Breakfast.
The actress, 32, claimed that many families across the country are “clinging to straws” with alternative treatments, sometimes requiring them to travel abroad.
The Wanted star Tom died on March 30 at the age of 33 following a battle with brain cancer after being diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma in October 2020.
Force for good: Tom Parker’s widow Kelsey campaigned for more money for brain tumor research in the UK during a performance on Monday’s BBC Breakfast
Kelsey explained how she and her husband had chosen to visit a clinic in Spain for help, as they wanted to explore options other than chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
She said, “When we were in treatment, I was always talking to people. Everyone has to go abroad.
“When you get the diagnosis because the standard of care hasn’t changed in 30 years, you grab onto a straw and think, ‘What else can I do?’
‘You have to go abroad. You have to look for other options because the standard of care is only radio and chemo and that’s it.
Soulmates: The Wanted star Tom died aged 33 on March 30 following a battle with brain cancer after being diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma in October 2020
“More needs to be done in this country. How can it be the biggest killer and get 1% of the funding? I just don’t understand.’
Earlier this year, Kelsey revealed that their daughter Aurelia, three, is “very confused” by Tom’s death and thinks he is on tour.
She admitted that the then-two-year-old “doesn’t quite understand he’s not coming back,” even after being “very blunt” and telling her “he’s dead,” while talking about Lorraine.
Horrible: The 32-year-old actress claimed that many families across the country are ‘clinging to straws’ with alternative treatments, sometimes requiring them to travel abroad
Opening up: Kelsey explained how she and her husband had chosen to visit a clinic in Spain for help, as they wanted to explore options other than chemotherapy and radiotherapy
Her experience: She said, “When we were in treatment, I was always talking to people. Everyone has to go abroad
Kelsey – who also has son Bodhi, two, with the late star – said: ‘When she sees pictures of her father, she says, ‘It’s my father!’ She will be three at the end of this month.
“I’ve been very honest, she still talks about him every day, she doesn’t understand that he’s not coming back.
“So I had to be really blunt and say he’s not coming back, that’s it, he’s dead and he’s not coming back because she doesn’t really understand.
“She’s just really confused about it. She thinks he’s on tour. But then we talk about him every day. She does ask me about him every day.
Oh no! Earlier this year, K elsey revealed that their daughter Aurelia, three, is ‘very confused’ by Tom’s death and thinks he’s on tour (pictured in June 2022)
“He wouldn’t want us to be sad. It’s lonely at night, but I have to live my life. We’ve been through so much together. The love I had for him was like no other.
“It’s hard not being able to text or call him to tell him things. I’ve lost the love of my life.’
The Glad You Came hitmaker posthumously released his memoir, Hope: My Inspirational Life, in May and reached number one on the Sunday Times bestseller list.
Kelsey said: ‘The book was number one for two weeks. He wanted to make sure it was a bestseller and it is. He lived very quickly.
“We lived in the hope that we could get through every day like this. How do you live with that diagnosis? But we did our best to find the light.’
Supported by the public after Tom’s passing, she said: ‘Everyone has a story about him and they loved him.
“I couldn’t even read all the messages I got. I was so lucky to have him as a husband.’
Oh no: She admitted the then-two-year-old “don’t quite understand he’s not coming back,” even after being “very blunt” and telling her “he’s dead”