McKay Pharmacy – Mark’s Appeal

McKay Pharmacy are proud to support our very own Mark Carson with his fundraising efforts on behalf of Cancer Focus NI.  Mark’s  friends are taking part in this year’s Mash Direct Belfast City Marathon, with Mark aiming to complete the last mile of the relay. 

McKay Pharmacy have put together our own 3 relay teams of volunteers to help Mark raise as much as possible, and we will also be putting together events in each of our stores in Belfast, Newtownards and Templepatrick. 

We are kindly asking all our friends, family, customers, and patients to donate what they can to help this amazing charity and support Mark  in raising money for an organisation very close to his heart.

Mark’s story:

On 28 February 2022, Mark went to the hospital with an overnight bag on his GP’s advice, for what he thought was a simple iron transfusion following feeling poorly after contracting covid.  Mark remained in  hospital, with no visitation, for nearly 13 weeks. 

On 9 March, Mark was diagnosed with Leukemia, and it took another 2 weeks for Mark to finally find out he had Acute Myeloid Leukemia, which is a very quick and aggressive form of blood cancer.  In fact, Mark and his wife were told that if he wasn’t starting his treatment when he was, he wouldn’t be alive in 3 weeks.  His family were rocked to the core.  Mark immediately commenced treatment and throughout a 7-month period, he underwent 3 gruelling rounds of  chemotherapy and over the 7 months, he only got home to recover and spend time with his wife and children for 6 weeks. 

Thankfully Mark went into remission which enabled him to undergo a Stem Cell Transplant in September 2022. His sister was a 100%  tissue match for him and without doubt, she saved his life.  At the time of writing this, Mark is 134 days post-transplant and is recovering well, but there is still a long road ahead.  During this 7/8-month period, there were dark days for Mark and his family, which they would not have got through without the support of local cancer charities, with Cancer Focus in particular providing support to Mark.  

Between Mark’s ‘Park Run’ buddies entering 2 relay teams and 4 full marathon runners, and his friends and colleagues at McKay Pharmacy entering 3 relay teams, we are all hoping to raise as much money for Cancer Focus NI as we can. 

Mark, his life saving sister, and his two daughters are planning to walk/run the last mile of the relay and marathon and cross the finish line with them, which would be a huge achievement for him.

We understand there are many who are feeling the ‘pinch’ financially, at present, but if you are able to give a couple of pounds to this wonderful charity, we would be eternally grateful, as will those who will receive help as a result of your donation.

Mark would like to say to anyone reading this:  1) if you can donate blood, please do – it really does save lives.  2) if you can donate stem cells, please join the DKMS Register – it is no longer an invasive process, and you will be saving someone’s life.  3) if you don’t feel right or think something may be wrong with your body, please get yourself checked by a health professional.