Bridgwater and Taunton College’s A Level student, Tom Winchester has recently been nominated by the local community to open The Old Vicarage hotel in Bridgwater alongside the Mayor and Mayoress, and the owners of the hotel.
Tom was nominated due to his recent efforts fundraising for the ‘Above and Beyond’ a charity that raises money for all of the hospitals in Bristol. So far, Tom has raised over £6,500 for the charity and all of the proceeds have gone to the Oncology ward at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, the Hospital that saved his life. Tom wants to help children that are in a similar situation to himself many years ago!
It was fantastic news when I found out I was nominated to help officially open The Old Vicarage and I really enjoyed cutting the ribbon, meeting everyone and seeing the new hotel and restaurant.
When Tom was 5 years old, he was diagnosed with a life threatening brain tumor. After many hospital appointments, the brain tumor was fortunately able to be removed after it was discovered that it was benign.
Now, it is Tom’s mission to give back to the team of doctors that saved his life and help change the lives of other children that are receiving treatment.
Tom has hosted many fundraisers over the past 4 years and thanks to all of his hard work he has raised and incredible amount of money for the charity. However, tom still isn’t satisfied and aims to raise even more!
Tom’s goal is to raise £10,000 by the time he heads off to his new adventure at university.
I am extremely grateful to everyone who nominated me and would like to say thank you to them. I will never be able to say thank you enough to the hospital and surgeon who saved my life, but I hope that my fundraising goes some way towards helping.
Tom’s next charity event is organising a charity pub quiz at Bridgwater and Albion Rugby Club on Friday 19 July. The quiz will be followed by live, local entertainers. There are 3 singers and a DJ lined up for this. Tom is encouraging people to purchase tickets and support the event!
On Sunday 14 September, Tom is planning a 14 mile sponsored walk from Bridgwater to Maunsel and back via the Canal. Tom is inviting people to join him and help to collect sponsors for this money raising walk!
Tom also plans on doing a charity football match at Bridgwater Town FC. This will be scheduled during the summer. He will be selecting team members to play against the Above and Beyond XL team. Tom is encouraging people to come and watch this match and help to support him and the charity!
We are incredibly proud of Tom in his efforts to fundraise for such an important cause and the College aims to support him wherever possible.
If you would like to donate to Tom’s great fundraising mission, please click below, every little helps!
