It is so exciting to be running the 2023 London Marathon for Blood Cancer UK. Four years ago I wouldn't have though it possible:

On the morning of Saturday 21st April 2018, the doctors in Lausanne Hospital told me I had Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. Just two weeks earlier I had been fine, but five minutes later I was in intensive care, where I spent the next twelve days.  After that came a year of chemotherapy, mostly spent in isolation in hospital, a bone-marrow stem-cell transplant and a long road to recovery.

At the time I was diagnosed, my three children (Theo, Milo and Isabella) were just 10, 8 and 2 years old.  I cannot describe what it feels like to look at your children and to think that you might not be there for them.

As I write this, there is a beautiful sunrise outside my window.  Yesterday I did a Park Run in Worcester through woods and fields. The night before I sat with Isabella and read her school book with her. Once she was asleep I sat and watched a movie with Milo.  Yesterday I took Theo to A&E because he had a suspected broken collar bone from playing rugby.  He was fine, and I was there for him.

These are all things I thought I would not be here for. I am very lucky.  But really it isn't so much luck as the simply incredible efforts of the countless people that gave me my life back.

The doctor who drove to my home at 6.30am to tell me to urgently get to a hospital after reviewing my blood test results.  The lovely British doctor at Lausanne Hospital (CHUV) who took the time to explain to me what was happening and who gave me hope. The act of kindness of that same doctor bringing me English magazines the next day.  The simply awesome team of professors, doctors and nurses that cared for me with such kindness and professionalism throughout my chemotherapy and stem-cell transplant at Geneva Hospital (HUG).  The anonymous German donor whose stem cells rebuilt my immune system.  My therapist and the fabulous team at ESCA CancerSupport who helped restore my mental health. The very special NHS which has been outstanding since I have returned to the UK. And of course my family and friends for all their love and for being there for me.  I was really a bystander to everyone else's herculean efforts. Thank you.

And behind all of this is the work of the researchers, like those supported by Blood Cancer UK, who have devised the treatments that saved my life. I have experienced, first hand, the complexities involved. They are heroes to me.

It is an honour and a privilege to be able to run the London Marathon, 5 years and 2 days after being diagnosed with AML in order to raise  even just a little to support the work of the wonderful people at Blood Cancer UK. 

Anything you can give will be incredibly gratefully received and will help save people like me that thought they were fine until one day they weren't.

Thank you.  🙏☺️