For many fans across the world, YouTube is more than just entertainment — it’s a place where communities form, friendships blossom, and legacies are built.
For Tom Simons, better known as TommyInnit to his 24 million subscribers, that sense of connection has taken on new meaning.
The 21-year-old creator is using his influence to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), supporting its ambitious £300 million campaign to build a new children’s cancer centre in central London.
A Mission Inspired by Loss
Tom’s motivation for the fundraiser comes from a deeply personal place — the passing of his close friend and fellow YouTuber, Technoblade.
The Minecraft content creator, whose real name was Alex, died in 2022 at just 23 after being diagnosed with a rare cancer known as sarcoma.
Tom recalls first being a fan before eventually becoming a friend.
“I was 14 or 15 when I started watching his videos. He was 18 and already so talented.
I started creating similar content, and that’s how we connected,” he shared.
“He was someone I really looked up to — not just as a creator, but as a person.
Losing him was hard to process, but it also made me realize how important it is to help however I can.”
Technoblade’s Story Lives On
Technoblade’s journey was both inspiring and heartbreaking.
What began as arm pain — which he thought came from gaming too much — turned out to be sarcoma, a rare type of cancer that affects bones and soft tissue.
Despite his illness, he continued creating videos that made millions laugh and think deeply.
He revealed his real name, Alex, only in his final video, just before passing away.
Since his death, fans and fellow YouTubers have united to honor his legacy, raising funds for cancer research and awareness.
Now, TommyInnit is carrying that torch forward — determined to channel grief into something transformative.
The Charity Event: “The Curious Case of the Copper Key”
Tom’s upcoming charity livestream, The Curious Case of the Copper Key, promises a mix of fun, creativity, and compassion.
The interactive event — streaming on YouTube on Saturday, October 18 — invites viewers to solve a mystery involving six suspects, each claiming ownership of a mysterious copper key.
The audience will join Tom and other well-known online personalities, including Abbie Budden and Keith Habersberger from The Try Guys, to unravel the clues.
“It’s a worthy cause and also a way to keep Alex’s legacy alive,” Tom said.
“I think spreading positivity is crucial — even small acts can bring light through the clouds.”
Visiting GOSH: A Moving Experience
A few weeks before the event, Tom visited Great Ormond Street Hospital and spent time with young patients.
One child jokingly told him, “You’re my third favourite YouTuber,” adding that Technoblade was their first.
That moment, Tom said, hit him deeply.
“These kids are fighting battles similar to what Alex went through, and yet they find joy in people like us.
It made me realize how vital support really is — no matter how rare children’s cancers may be.”
Building a World-Class Children’s Cancer Centre
GOSH’s new facility is being designed to transform how care is delivered to children with cancer.
It will feature advanced operating theatres, a state-of-the-art critical care unit, expanded hospital schooling facilities, and outdoor spaces to make treatment less intimidating for young patients and their families.
Since launching the fundraising campaign two years ago, GOSH has already raised over £200 million.
Construction began in August, with the hospital aiming to open the new centre to children by 2029. But £100 million is still needed to complete the project.
Why GOSH’s Work Matters More Than Ever
The urgency is clear.
Cancer diagnoses among children have increased by over 15% since the 1990s, with around 1,600 new cases in children under 15 and 2,300 in under-25s reported each year in the UK.
Yet, only 4% of research funding goes toward paediatric cancers.
Sarah Bissell, deputy director of relationship fundraising at GOSH Charity, emphasized the importance of this new facility: “We’re developing new treatments that could eventually replace chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
The centre will give us the space to include more children in clinical trials — we want every child to have access to one.”
Creating a “Home Away from Home” for Young Patients
Children receiving cancer treatment at GOSH often stay for extended periods — sometimes up to nine months — especially for bone marrow transplants.
“That’s why the feeling of home is essential,” Bissell explained.
“We want this new centre to be warm, hopeful, and empowering for patients and their families.”
A Community of Hope and Generosity
Thanks to donations from the public, GOSH’s vision is well on its way to becoming reality.
But the hospital still needs public support — and creative fundraisers like TommyInnit’s livestream are helping bridge that gap.
“We’re incredibly grateful that Tom wanted to help,” Bissell said.
“Events like his not only raise money but bring joy and connection to people around the world.”
Tom’s livestreamed mystery fundraiser will take place on October 18, and anyone can tune in at tommydetective.com to join the adventure.