Deep breath…

I am running the London Marathon!!!!

I never in a million years would have thought that I would ever run a marathon, 💀🤣but it’s for a cause SO close to our family’s hearts, I am running for the incredible Anthony Nolan charity!! 💚

Some of you will know Elkie is my brother’s girlfriend, and she is sunshine in human form☀️🩷. She’s also spent a huge portion of her life battling leukemia. At just 21 years old, she has had to face this devastating diagnosis 3 times.

Elkie was first diagnosed at 14 years old. She underwent 2.5 years of chemotherapy, then had 15 months in remission until May 2021, when she relapsed. Another 2.5 years of chemotherapy passed, and again, she was in remission! Unfortunately, in January of this year, she relapsed again and, as an adult, was now transferred to the Clatterbridge Cancer Center. With chemotherapy now not being an option, Anthony Nolan Charity was contacted to find a match for Elkie to have a life-saving bone marrow transplant.

While waiting, Elkie underwent Car-T cell therapy in Manchester. This was risky as she had been given 80% chance that she would not recover from this treatment to even get to the transplant.

Much to her oncologists surprise, this treatment sent her into a 100% remission!

Still, while this was going on, Anthony Nolan were searching for a donor and soon found a perfect match!

Throughout the years of treatment, Anthony Nolan has been in contact with Elkie and her team to support and be there on standby for her as and when she eventually was ready for transplant. She has watched countless children and young adults rely on the Anthony Nolan Charity to give them a second chance at life and to live without this horrific disease.

Elkie is being monitored closely by her oncology team, who have a plan in place with the charity and their donor for when the time comes for her transplant to give her a new life without the burden of her leukemia returning.

If you are not in a position to donate at this time, firstly, thank you so much for reading, and secondly, if you are able to, PLEASE sign up for the stem cell register! You could be giving someone the gift of a long and happy life.💚🖤

Anthony Nolan’s world-leading stem cell register, groundbreaking cell and gene therapy research and expertise in stem cell transplants means we currently help four patients a day in need of a transplant, giving more people another chance to live. But we know we can, and must, do more. Driven by patients, backed by stem cell donors, powered by science, and with your support, we won’t stop until we’ve uncovered the lifesaving potential of the cells inside us all, and every patient can survive and thrive.