A heartfelt thank you to everyone taking part in and supporting this wonderful fundraising event in memory of Tom, who sadly lost his life to oesophageal cancer at just 26. We wish everyone involved the very best of luck and thank them for helping to make a difference.
If you would like to support this fundraising event, click here.
Tom’s Story
“Tom was a completely devoted husband, son, brother, cousin and incredible friend. Completely selfless in all of his actions; always putting other people first. Tom was born on the 28th December 1998, to his brilliant parents Jenny and Alan Mitchell.
Moving to Brinsworth in Rotherham at a young age, he became friends with people who would stick by him for life. Later going onto study at Brinsworth Comprehensive School, where he kept adding to his roster of friends just simply through being the brilliant kid he was. He excelled in his GCSE exams and excelled in his A-levels afterwards; going onto secure a place at Newcastle University after this. This, was where he met his future wife Mel.
Mel is French, so Tom being Tom, he learnt French to impress her. That he obviously did and they fell for each other. After uni he and Mel moved to Sheffield where they eventually ended up buying a house in Chapeltown. He stayed extremely close with his family in adulthood, regularly going round to his parents and even self inviting himself and Mel round. They then got married on the 30th July 2024.
He got an extremely good job at a company called Chersoft ltd. Where he helped to develop and test the maritime navigation software they make. He now has a room dedicated to him at this company.
Outside of his accomplishments he was an incredible person, a model child for his parents, kind, caring and always begging to go out into the hills for a walk. A loving big brother to his sister Annie, always there to help her and take care of her. Helping her study for her own GCSE’s.
He also did things from a young age that people don’t do in their prime. He did the national 3 peaks challenge in 24 hours by age 10. He was an extremely avid hiker, him and Mel going on walks as much as they could with their whippet Basil. He was never selfish always putting others before himself.
Writing this as one of oldest friends I have to say I’m extremely lucky to have known him. He helped shape my early years growing up as he did with his other friends. He was obsessed with ships even going to the point of buying a game called ship simulator so he could drive them on his computer. He was extremely smart and had an insane over active brain. Always thinking, always on the go.
On the 3rd of October 2025 he was diagnosed with stage 4 oesophageal cancer after multiple misdiagnosis. After a very short battle of only 29 days, he sadly passed away at the age of 26 at Sheffield Weston park hospital. He is and always will be missed by everyone who had the luck to have been by his side at some point in his life.
We have taken up the challenge to complete the national 3 peaks. Climbing the 3 highest mountains of England, Scotland and Wales. This is a fitting tribute to his legacy and the avid climber and hiker that he was. We will be donating all the money raised to OPA oesophageal and gastric support cancer charity.”
