A WOMAN has raised over £8,000 in memory of her boyfriend who died from a rare form of bone cancer.

Tom Smith, from Bishop's Waltham, was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma after a blood test at Bishops Waltham Surgery.

The 22-year-old initially thought the pain was due to a football injury, but was told to go to the doctor's by his girlfriend after he could not walk.

The condition mainly affects children and young people, with most cases diagnosed in people aged ten to 20.

Now Tom's girlfriend, Breeze Miles, and his family have presented a £8018.84 cheque to the Teenage and Young Adult Unit at Southampton General Hospital, where Tom was treated.

Tom's girlfriend, Breeze Miles, said: "Tom was diagnosed with the cancer in May 2017 and it was quite fast-acting. When he was at Southampton he had to learn to walk again while he was having chemotherapy."

Tom's family hosted a range of fundraisers for the hospital, with the most successful event being a headshave at The Barleycorn Inn, Basingwell Street Lower.

Breeze, who Tom's girlfriend for a year, said: "We were all at the pub and his sister, Katie, and five of Tom's close friends decided to shave their heads for Southampton hospital ward. We had five football players come down from Portsmouth Football Club.

"The pub was absolutely rammed and it was really good to have raised around £7,000 that day for the hospital. It ended up being a free-for-all and 20 other people in the pub ended up shaving their heads. Everyone was bald.

"Everyone from the area raised another £2,000 for Tom too, as he could not work at the time."

Tom's two cousins, Victoria Smith and Liam Hiscock, also took part in the Great South Run where they raised £500 for Tom. They will be doing this every year.

"Before Tom died in October last year, the hospital made him feel so comfortable and it was like a home from home.

"Tom was a bubbly and caring man who was taken from us far too soon but it gives us comfort to know that we have been able to support the ward that had supported Tom for many months."