I will be running the London Marathon on 21st April 2024 for Anthony Nolan.

I was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma (a blood cancer) in December 2019. By summer 2020 I had shown a good response to all the chemotherapy and radiotherapy and was ready to try and get on with my life, but I started experiencing excruciating chronic back pain. It turned out that my lymphoma had relapsed, and was squeezing the spinal cord. It was difficult to believe that after all that treatment I was now facing a 50:50 chance of surviving.

I then had 12 weeks of escalated chemotherapy, which thankfully the cancer responded to. This meant I was able to have an autologous stem cell transplant on 4^th February 2021. Luckily, I had a complete response, and I’m still cancer-free today.

After my treatment, I had lost a huge amount of muscle, I was out of breath from walking and I couldn't run at all. This was really hard to take as I'd always been quite active. I really wanted to get fit and healthy again.

Over the following year, with the help of the "5K Your Way" cancer support group at my local parkrun, I gradually progressed from walking to running 5ks and 10ks, and have now run the Bristol Half-Marathon again.

I want to run the London Marathon for Anthony Nolan, as they save the lives of people with blood cancer. They do this by matching people willing to donate stem cells to people who desperately need a lifesaving transplant. They also carry out cutting edge scientific research, and support patients through the transplant process and beyond.

If my lymphoma relapses again, I know that I would need a stem cell donor, and Anthony Nolan could possibly save my life. Please donate as I think this is a really good cause!

(NB This Justgiving page is linked to AN London Marathon 2023 as I deferred from the 2023 entry)