So on Sunday the 20th of May I will be attempting to run my first ever half marathon. I am running the Manchester half marathon to raise awareness and money for The Christie and here’s why…

In May 2018 it will officially mark the 10 year milestone since I was diagnosed with Acute lymphoblastic Leukaemia and 7 years since I completed my treatment and have been in remission. I am a cancer survivor and lucky enough to be here to tell the tail…

My aim is not to tell you my sob story but to make you all aware and understand just how amazing The Christie hospital is and how much they have done for me to this very day. Back in 2008 when I was just 18 years old I got the heartbreaking news that I had been diagnosed with this terrible disease. I went through 3 years of treatment including chemo therapy, lumber punchers, bone marrows, steroid treatment, blood transfusions and that was the easy part!

The amazing doctors and nurses at The christie saved my life and probably more than once! During my first year of treatment I became very poorly to the point where I spent a month in the critically care unit at The Christie. I was battling septicaemia as well as cancer. It became so critical that they told my family I had just 24 hours to live but with the amazing help and treatment from the dedicated nurses and doctors at The Christie I pulled through and carried on with my treatment for Leukaemia.

Over the years that I was receiving my treatment for Leukaemia I had all sorts of obstacles thrown in my way, fighting never ending infections, treatment for blood clots, treatment for platelet dysfunction’s and hair loss. Loosing my hair was one of the most devastating things iv ever had to deal with and I don’t think I would of been able to cope if it wasn’t for the support and advice from The Christie.

It was definitely the hardest 3 years of my life but it has now given me a different outlook on life and a massive appreciation to just be able to live! Every morning that I wake up I am thankful for what every single person at The Christie did for me as I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the continuous help and support.

Since finishing treatment it hasn’t always been easy as the harsh chemo therapy has left me with permanent damage. I now live everyday with peripheral neuropathy, avascular necrosis, a platelet functioned disorder and premature ovary insufficiency.

To this day The Christie are still looking after me and still provide me with the medication that I now take on a daily basis due to chronic pain. I have a check up with my consultant who is now officially my hero every 6 months and I also continue to see the endocrine team and the pain team on a regular basis at The Christie.

Due to the late effects of treatment that I now suffer with I technically shouldn’t even be attempting this run but from day 1 I have never let it get in my way and stop me from doing anything that I want to do so I’m not going to start now!

The staff at The Christie have always gone above and beyond for me and now I want to give back! I believe that The christie saved my life and without the research and life saving treatments for cancer this would not be possible. Thats why I’m now wanting to try to raise as much money as possible to donate to The Christie who continue to treat and save lives just like mine every single day! My hope is that one day C will be for CURE and everyone can win their fight against cancer!

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and Thank you for every single donation, I am forever grateful!

Together we will beat Cancer.

Leanne Parker x