Defibrillators to be installed in Tom's memory

Devastated relatives, friends and former team-mates raised more than £20,000 in the teenager’s memory following his death in July.

They have now ordered five defibrillators, which will be placed around Wickersley and Bramley, where Tom lived.

Tom’s mum Keira Hayden (30) said: “The support has been fabulous and really helped us. We want to get the defibrillators installed so people can see where their money has gone.”

Tom, who played for Wickersley Youth Junior Football Club, died suddenly of a rare heart condition at his home in July.

His death was the third tragedy to hit Keira, who lost Tom’s dad Ryan suddenly at the age of 15.

Keira’s son, Joshua Donnelly, also died on Christmas Day in 2007 aged just 23 months.

Keira said the life-saving equipment would be installed at Sainsbury’s Local, Flanderwell Lane, the Brush and Easel pub, Fleming Way, Flanderwell Primary School, Wickersley School and a fifth location yet to be decided.

A total of £13,126.70 was raised after neighbour Rhiannon Storrs started an online campaign to help pay for Tom’s funeral costs.

Forty-five of Tom’s family, friends and former team-mates also raised more than £7,000 when they walked from his beloved Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough stadium to an away game at Huddersfield Town in October.

Keira said: “The defibrillators cost around £1,300 each but we’ve also got to pay for the electricians to install them.

“We want to protect the community and we want something positive to come out of Tom’s death.”

Keira said any money left over would be donated to SADS UK, which funds research into sudden deaths.

Money in Tom’s memory will continue to flood in throughout 2017 as Keira’s colleague Paul Hercock laces his shoes up for not one but five marathons.

Paul (37) hopes to raise £1,250 by completing runs in Manchester, Belfast, Edinburgh, York and Dublin.

He said: “Like everybody I heard about what had happened and it’s literally the most horrific thing you can think of.

“There were lots of words said and people saying: ‘Let me know if there’s anything I can do’ but there was little action.”

Paul completed his first marathon in Paris last year and admitted completing five in seven months will be a “test”.

He added: “I really wanted to do the London Marathon because it attracts a lot of attention but I wasn’t lucky enough to get a place in the ballot so I thought I needed to do something to raise eyebrows. People might think I’m bonkers but the important thing is that they donate.”

For more information or to sponsor Paul visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Paul-Hercock1.

Tom’s cousin Simon Colliver will also be lacing up his running shoes when he takes on the London Marathon in April.