I’m delighted to be running the 2024 London Marathon for Anthony Nolan.

The charity is one which is extremely close to my heart. In 2010, when I was 13, I received a lifesaving stem cell transplant after Anthony Nolan matched me with a donor.

April 2024 will mark 15 years since I was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia - the rare blood disorder which saw me need a transplant - and I couldn’t think of a better way to mark that huge milestone and reflect on a period of my life which certainly felt like a marathon.

Stem cells are the building blocks of our blood and immune systems. They have the ability to transform into various types of blood cells, which makes them essential in the treatment of a range of illnesses, including leukaemia, lymphoma, and other blood disorders, like the one I was diagnosed with.

I’m grateful every single day to my donor for selflessly saving my life, and to Anthony Nolan for making it happen.

Today, five people like me will start their search for a stranger to save their life.

It costs £40 to add each new potential donor to the Anthony Nolan stem cell register. Every new person on the register means another chance for someone to find their lifesaving match.

By donating, you will be giving more people with blood cancer the chance of a future. Together, we can keep saving lives.

Once you’ve donated, have a look at anthonynolan.org to find out more about joining the stem cell register.