Elizabeth Thomas
You don't get something for nothing..
Fundraising for Blood Cancer UK
Story
February 2021 - Second Fundraiser
Happy Sunday folks.
Last summer - I decided to make a commitment to raising money for Blood Cancer UK. So in order to really pull on your heart strings (but more importantly - purse strings) I chopped my hair off, wrote about my Leukaemia diagnosis, and put it out into the world of social media. I was honestly blown away at how generous people were in their donations and that weekend will always mark one of my top memories in 2020.
However, I knew that for my next fundraiser, I wanted to do something a little more physically challenging and so at the end of January I made a decision to take part in Blood Cancer UK’s ‘Run 50 in February’. Now - I feel it’s important to note that I am NOT a runner.
I can count on one hand how many runs I did in 2020.
The last one being in August.
So in order to hold myself accountable - I looped some of my friends into it.
I had completed 4k by Feb 5th when, as I was tying my running shoes, I got a notification from the NHS app to say I'd been exposed to COVID and I was to isolate for 10 days. I took my shoes off and stayed inside as instructed until Feb 15th. Crap bags.
Now, it’s not my style to ask others to do something I’m not going to do myself and so with only 2 weeks to now do the challenge, I went quiet on the whole thing.
50k in 4 weeks felt out of my comfort zone. But 46k in 2 weeks was something else.
Privately however, I still wanted to see if I could do it. Mainly because I remember all too clearly how it feels when your body is physically exhausted - because it is fighting.
So fitness - and just moving your body in general - is a privilege that isn’t always a given.
So for two weeks I’ve been running away and I’m happy to say that as of today, I've ticked off 45K. I’d say for 80% of the time I have an internal dialogue that sounds like this “I hate running. This sucks so bad. How do people like this. Oh god what's that pain in my side” but I then ALWAYS come back to Liz from two years ago - if my body could get me through that then it can get me through this. And I end the run on a high.
I’m going to post this message, put my shoes on, and go for that last 5k run in the sunshine - and I will smile.
But the elephant in the room is that I’ve not actually raised any money. I’m sure there’s a lot to unpick about why I haven't pushed this more - but let's just wrap it up to nerves and move forward. Because do not get me wrong - reminding myself of what a privilege it is to be healthy has been awesome - but I’m here for your money. I want that money. I’m giving my money too. But if you have some money you won't miss, and you’d like a place to put it, I’m so keen for you to put it right here!
I only get to have these wonderful reminders of how special life is because twenty years ago, some strangers asked their friends for money. Their money led to a breakthrough in treatment. That money saved my life. I feel like this might be coming across too brazen. Or starting to sound like a 90’s hip hop song. But I’m okay with that. Let me be very clear - any money, of any quantity, donated to this charity, or another, will always and forever be amazing.
I said this last summer but I’m going to say it again - It was off the back of other people’s generosity all those years ago that gave me a future. So that’s why I want your money - for some else's future.
So, if you would like to donate - this is my original just giving page, thought it would be nice to continue the tally.
If you’ve made it this far, and I still have your attention - then I might as well go one step further. Anthony Nolan matches incredible individuals willing to donate their blood stem cells or bone marrow to people who desperately need life saving transplants. If you also feel the need to do something outside your comfort zone, please consider doing this. This week marks the 1 year anniversary that my hero, idol and best friend (corrected from ‘good friend’ in a previous post after a mild melt down that it was not representative of our friendship - Miles Higson - you are welcome) donated via this charity and 12 months on he has had the incredible news that the recipient of his donation, an 8 year old little girl, has had a successful transplant and is healthy. What an amazing gift to give a family.
Signing up to the register is so unbelievably simple and can literally save a life. If you’re nervous and have any questions - slide into my DMs and let's talk.
If you’re over 30 - I'm afraid you too old son! But they also desperately need monetary donations to process those on the register and so contribution in this manner is just as heroic. I can only think of one thing more heartbreaking than not finding a match, and that's having a match ready and willing, but not in time.
Alright - I’m going to stop with the money and marrow now.
I’m off to put my trainers on.
Hope you all have a lovely Sunday.
Tell your family you love them.
#spreadlovenotcovid
August 2020 Original Fundraiser - Little Princess Donation - £7,406 of total
My Story
Some of you may know, some of you might be finding this out for the first time but in December of 2018 I was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML). Within a month, I had a bone marrow biopsy and started treatment on a chemotherapy drug called TKIs. As you can imagine, it was a time of uncertainty and anxiety for both me and my family, involving many hard conversations. But what I actually want to bring your attention to, is the options I had.
Science is sexy
In 2001, the 1st generation TKI drug, Imatinib, met FDA approval and was licenced in the UK, Europe and the US for use as treatment. Before this, a CML diagnosis came with an average life expectancy of 5 years. The scientist behind it’s development received the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award in 2009 for “converting a fatal cancer into a manageable chronic condition”.
The development of this breakthrough targeted therapy has meant that now CML , more or less, has no impact on the life expectancy of a patient. The continuous development into 2nd and 3rd generation of TKI drugs means that not only do you get to stay at the party, but the side effects one is left with have, over time, become more and more manageable - to the point I can live a life where people don’t even notice I’m in treatment.
In simple terms - back in December 2018 - it was serious, but it was never urgent.
I always had time.
I always had options!
Heartbreakingly, the same can not always be said for other types of blood cancers. This constantly plays on my mind.
The Facts
Like many charities over the past few months, Blood Cancer UK has been hit massively by the effect of COVID-19.
Resulting in a 38% loss in their fundraising income
Expectation is it will take 4.5 years for this to recover to normal levels.
There is now a £1.8 million shortfall in available funds for medical research spending.
The simple truth is that less funding means less research and trials, which means fewer breakthroughs and therefore fewer new treatments.
Sadly, in the first phase of the pandemic, for thousands of patients, clinical trials were paused, delayed or stopped altogether.
The Reason for Action
For me and my family, we get to experience the benefits from breakthrough research that was only made possible off the back of other people's generosity all those years ago.
The benefit being, for better use of a phrase, my future.
I can’t even imagine how much harder the conversations would have been if I hadn't had those options that scientists and research gave me. You might think I am trying to tug on your heartstrings to milk you for money. You are absolutely correct.
So, having never spoken about my diagnosis on social platforms before, for no other reason than I consider myself quite a private person - now feels like a good time to change that. My aim is to find more ways to raise money for Blood Cancer UK for many years to come. But until life looks a little more normal, I'm doing the first thing that springs to mind. I’m chopping my hair off….today
Little Princess Trust
My hair donation will be going to the Little Princess Trust to be made into a wig for a child/young adult who has lost their own hair through cancer treatment. As a good friend told me over a bottle of wine last week - if it wasn’t for my magic drugs, I’d have lost my hair anyway. So it’s time to give it away.
The Little Princess Trust has the greatest demand for hair donation of 16-inches or longer, which is needed to make a 12” wig. But they currently have a shortage of these lengths.
Thanks to my mothers incredible hair genes - I have the ability to donate this. So I shall.
Sign Off
This past year has obviously affected people in many different ways.
If you would like to donate some money to show your support, no matter how little, it would mean the world.
Alternatively, if you would like to donate in other ways - time, volunteering, fundraising support, blood/bone marrow donation* - it would all be welcome.
*Anthony Nolan matches incredible individuals willing to donate their blood stem cells or bone marrow to people who desperately need life saving transplants. It all starts by joining the register. (for reference, I have a very close friend who donated bone marrow with them recently - it was seamless and the food he received during his hospital stay was top notch)
In case you wanted to learn more, I have put links below to Blood Cancer UK, Little Princess Trust and Anthony Nolan.
Hope you recognise me when you next see me.
Pictures to follow.
Much love.
Liz Thomas xxx
P.s. if you’ve made it to the bottom of this - you’re magic in my eyes.