'One in a million' - Beloved Blackpool dad tragically dies of heart attack just days after cancer all-clear
“We’ve had hundreds of messages telling us that the world has lost a unique person. The world is worse off now because Tom's no longer in it.”
Just days ago, Sharon Davey was making plans to travel with her husband Tom after he had finally been given the all-clear following his battle with lung cancer.
Tragically, on Sunday evening – just days after receiving the news that he was cancer-free – Tom died suddenly from a heart attack.
Unfortunately for Sharon, high-funeral costs and a lack of savings have forced her to set up a GoFundMe to help pay for Tom’s funeral. In less than three days the fund has raised over £1200 of a £5000 target.
Speaking to the Gazette about her GoFundMe and the life of her husband, Tom, Sharon said: “He just got the all clear from the oncologist on Thursday. It was months and months of rigorous treatment, but in the end, it's the treatment that has destroyed his lungs. He was diagnosed on Christmas Eve last year.
“He just had a massive heart attack out of nowhere on Sunday. So, it was something we weren't expecting. We were just making plans to go away for a weekend and this is what happened.
“I feel quite numb at the moment. Every now and then I'll just sit and start crying, but numb because this was the last thing I expected to happen.”
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Sharon and Tom were together for 33 years and had been married for three decades, raising seven children during that time. They spent 24 years living in Blackpool where Tom delivered for Alliance Healthcare, delivering medicines to chemists, hospitals and prisons.
“We left Blackpool and moved to Somerset two years ago,” Sharon added. “I used to say, I’d move back to Blackpool tomorrow and Tom felt the same way. He absolutely loved being in Blackpool because the people are so friendly and welcoming.
“We'd spent our savings moving down here so we hadn't even had time to start saving up to recoup. We've just had to buy a stair lift to put in, so that was the last of our money gone. The first target that GoFundMe has set is £3,000, but we're looking to raise £4,500 towards his funeral costs.”
Sharon’s family has been rocked by Tom’s sudden death, with one of her sons returning from his honeymoon to find out the tragic news.
“He was one in a million. He was a true gentleman and he'd do anything for anybody. He had a wicked sense of humour. He was amazing, he always had a smile on his face. Always had a cheeky smile for everybody.
“We’ve had hundreds of messages telling us that the world has lost a unique person. The world is worse off now because Tom's no longer in it.”
A link to the donation page can be found here.