As many of you are aware, I've been living with cancer for many years, but early in 2018 my Lymphoma transformed into a more aggressive form and I needed repeated chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant to prolong my life. Unfortunately, none of the treatments provided a lasting remission and by late 2020, Lymphoma was most definitely gaining the upper hand. My future promised to be both bleak and brief.

That's the bad news over.... because at this extremely low point, I was fortunate to be accepted on a new early phase immunotherapy trial treatment at The Christie.

Just six weeks after starting my trial treatment, my cancer was in retreat, and even more incredibly, after 3 months my scans confirmed that the Lymphoma was in complete remission.

By June last year I was strong enough to walk a 130km section of the Camino de Santiago, the medieval route of pilgrims in northern Spain, to raise funds for The Christie's vital work. The donations supplement NHS funding and allow additional research and give more patients the opportunity to join a clinical trial tailored to their needs.

This June I'm attempting to raise money by walking the Camino Finisterra from Santiago to Muxia on the Atlantic coast.

The Christie and supporters of the charity have given me my life back and I shall be forever grateful.

It's comforting to know that places of research excellence like The Christie are here to help us, and if you can afford a donation, it will help them to deliver their expert care to more of us.

I realise that this year, with the cost of living crisis, it is particularly difficult to find spare money for charity, but whatever you can give, however small, will be greatly appreciated and certainly not wasted.

Thanks in anticipation, John.

The Christie charity supports the Lymphoma team and in the past this has included essential posts and research.

The Lymphoma team at The Christie has an international reputation in clinical trials research to develop novel treatments for lymphoma patients, both to improve cure rates and to prolong good quality life in individuals whose disease is resistant to conventional treatments.

The team has a large portfolio of clinical trials and generous donations have allowed us to invest in this research which has led to the development of new therapies and innovative ways to treat Lymphoma. Ultimately, the research undertaken at The Christie will be disseminated widely for the benefit of Lymphoma patients the world over.

By helping us fund posts and research like this, you can help make these latest treatment methods a reality. And therefore, help to improve patient outcomes and care.