Last year, Tom Walker hit the headlines as the man who thought he was suffering from vertigo and found out he had a potentially life threatening brain tumour after reading about similar experiences on Facebook.

Tom, was initially diagnosed with vertigo, following symptoms of dizziness and headaches.

The 37-year-old father of two pressed his GP for further scans after reading about other similar brain tumour-type symptoms on Facebook post.

“After reading about their symptoms, it made me think that maybe there was more to my headaches than I initially thought.

“There I was lying in awake in the middle of the night with a headache, thinking that I might actually have a brain tumour.

“I went straight back to the doctors and asked them to refer me for a scan,” former Llandovery College pupil, Tom, said.

Unfortunately, since Tom’s tumour was removed, things have taken a turn for the worst and he is battling an ependymoma brain tumour.

Tom’s friend Chris Hulmes, said: “We thought Tom had recovered after an operation last year but unfortunately a brain tumour has come back which has also spread to his spine.

“He’s currently in hospital and unfortunately paralysed from the waist down.

“He and his family are battling very bravely but support for families like the Walkers is much needed.”

Inspired by Tom’s amazing positivity, a group of Tom’s friends will be walking from Llandovery, where Tom went to school, to the Celtic Manor, where he works.

They are aiming to raise funds for Tom’s young family’s needs, raise money for his nominated cause, The Brain Tumour Charity, and most importantly to raise awareness of this devastating disease.

South Wales Guardian:

Tom’s friends are aiming to walk the 100km in 24 hours to fund the adaption of the Walker family’s house.

This would mean Tom could move home and be with his wife and two sons.

The ‘Walk for Walker’ will begin in Tom’s former Rugby Club, Llandovery, at 7pm on Friday and will pass through the Brecon Beacons in the middle of the night.

They will arrive at the Celtic Manor, Newport on Saturday evening after 24 hours of walking.

Friend and walker Alex Hawkins said: “Tom has promised to join the walkers for the last mile or so which everyone is really excited about.

“It’s a huge challenge but we’re up for it and determined to raise as much money as possible.”

Supporters are welcome to wave the walkers off from Llandovery Rugby Club on Friday evening.

“We’ll probably be looking much prettier at the start than when we’ve finished,” Alex added.

Follow the walkers on Twitter @walkforwalker.