In August 2014 my wife Rachael was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. She continues the fight against this illness with a strength and determination that has inspired me to run the 2016 London Marathon for Anthony Nolan. 

Rachael needs a stem cell transplant to make a full recovery and Anthony Nolan are the guys who find the stem cell donors that make this happen.

Thankfully I won't be doing this alone - Rachael's brother Richard will join me in taking on this challenge. Having done the bulk or our training and now on the taper down to the big day we're starting to get excited. If you'd told me I'd feel like this when I'd done my first half marathon distance on a cold wet February morning I would not have believed it!

Rachael has always wanted to write and now she has an amazing story to tell which you can check out at rachaelahyde.wordpress.com

We want to share our experience of cancer diagnosis, treatment and how we've approached this life-changing event in the hope we can help others facing similar challenges whilst raising money for Anthony Nolan. You can find out more about our fundraising efforts and Anthony Nolan on this link http://blog.anthonynolan.org/.

We've also had a number of friends and family join the Running for Rachael team in my sister Lauren, our good friends Erme and Charlotte. Lauren did a 22KM run in Madrid, Erme felt as though running wasn't quite enough so did a sprint triathlon instead and Charlotte ran the Brooklyn "Rock & Roll" 1/2 Marathon.

A colleague from work Joe Rudkin is the latest recruit and will be running 5 half marathons in 5 days before work as part of The SR Group Crazy 5 in 5 lead by Leila Hudson. Welcome aboard! 

If you'd like to Run for Rachael please do so by joining the team on this link www.justgiving.com/teams/running-for-rachael.

If you've got other bright fund-raising ideas that don't involve running, or may even lead to the need to do more exercise, you're welcome to join the team!

On October 31st 2015 our dear friend Lucy organised a Halloween Fayre in Lincolnshire, Brewer Morris did a raffle at our annual client pub quiz and my lovely mum Penny arranged a bake day for her book club - raising over £2,000 between them.

Running, eating, quizzing, partying or whatever you want to do please join us in our fundraising for Anthony Nolan.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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