On Sunday I’m running the London marathon with my long term running buddies, ‘Running Joke’ (we’re what happens when a Scottish, Irish, English and Welsh person go for a run!)

It was whilst running that Sian, the Welsh one, first realised she really wasn’t well.  Fast forward a few months to the devastating news that she had acute myeloid leukemia, an aggressive blood cancer.  Her only hope was an urgent stem cell transplant, and Anthony Nolan made that happen in April 2022.  Every day we all thank Anthony Nolan, and the generous 24 year old who donated her stem cells (‘I’ve got the blood of a 24 year old!’ Sian likes to boast) and the team at the NHS Churchill Hospital who saved her life.  

Running the marathon is a celebration of life and of Sian, who turns 60 in 2024, is back to running (a marathon no less!) and is living life to the full.  And it’s about raising loads of money for Anthony Nolan so that others can have the gift of a transplant and the chance to celebrate life too. 

Thank you for sponsoring me and joining the celebration! You might know that marathons are a once in a decade event for me and running 26.2 miles hasn’t got any easier ten years on! Half of my ambitious fund raising target is already met through events and schemes (thank you if you have already supported me through these!) Having your sponsorship as I run means the world and will really motivate and help me ❤️

One final request, if you are aged 16 - 30 might you consider being a stem cell donor? Without her donor Sian wouldn’t be here.  Full details https://www.anthonynolan.org/help-save-a-life/join-stem-cell-register?

Thank you!