Firstly, I’d like to say thank you for finding your way to my page. If you’re surprised to find yourself here, you’re not the only one! 

Back in early January I received a call from Myeloma UK out the blue to say they had one place left for this year’s London Marathon and would I be interested in taking part? Without hesitation, I said YES! 

As this is my first marathon I don't quite know what I've signed myself up for but I do love a challenge. Bring it on!

I’ll be running on behalf of Myeloma UK which is the only charity in the UK which exclusively fundraises for this type of bone marrow cancer.

The reason I am supporting Myeloma UK is because of my Mum. 

In September 2021 – after a lifetime of wanting to live close to the sea – she moved from England to Ireland. 

Looking back over the previous two years, she had been struggling with low energy levels, joint pain and other symptoms and despite visiting her GP, she was not getting any answers. 

Frustrated and desperate to find out the root cause, she also tried everything from private blood tests to visiting holistic practitioners. 

In the build up to the move to Ireland, she began struggling with pain in her ribs and sternum. Following another visit to the GP, they advised she had costochondritis (inflammation where your ribs join the bone in the middle of your chest) which causes sharp chest pain when moving or breathing. No scans or blood tests were performed for this diagnosis and she was re-assured that anti-inflammatories were all she needed for treatment. With that she was sent her on her way.  

Two weeks after moving to Ireland, she collapsed and was in hospital for a considerable amount of time. Once again no tests were done and all that was prescribed this time was morphine. Despite the onset of kidney failure, she was discharged. 

It took another three weeks for her to see a local GP. By this time she was in a huge amount of pain and could hardly walk. Fortunately, they took her bloods and advised her to go straight to A&E. That evening she was given the diagnosis of myeloma cancer and acute kidney failure which had been exacerbated by the strong anti-inflammatories she’d previously been prescribed. At the time of her diagnosis her kidney function was only 5%.

Last year Myeloma UK released their delayed diagnosis report which highlighted that 50% of myeloma patients get a
delayed diagnosis which is completely unacceptable, so a push for early diagnosis and help to improve myeloma patients’ quality of life is urgently needed.

Thankfully, my Mum has now recovered following stem-cell transplant. 

I hope that by running the London Marathon I will be able to provide vital funds to help more people who urgently need life-saving treatment and support.

Thank you! Ryan x