Please help me to raise money for Exeter Leukaemia Fund (ELF) whilst celebrating Andy's second 21st birthday!

Andy has the dubious honour of being my oldest friend. Rumour has it that we first met “in utero” when our mothers attended antenatal classes together in 1979. Conversation was probably limited…

However, we know for a fact that we have been friends since we were 4 year olds at Deal Parochial Primary School bonding over heady days of rounders, spelling tests and country dancing in the gym!

We remained friends through out high school surviving awful “curtain” haircuts (him), Deirdre Barlow specs (me) and drinking all of Andy’s Dad duty free beer supply in the garage when his parents went on holiday (sorry Mr Jordan!).

It was truly devastating when in 2002, Andy was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia, aged 22, shortly after finishing Uni. We are all eternally grateful that, after six months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Andy received a lifesaving bone marrow transplant from an anonymous donor we have affectionately nicknamed 'Frank'.

This summer, to celebrate Andy remaining in remission for 21 years, and being a medical miracle tackle, I’m tackling an Ultra Challenge 50km trek with a team of Andy’s pals.

The team are raising money for ELF, a local charity who support blood cancer patients and their families from across Devon who are treated at the Royal Devon & Exeter hospital. The South West Coast 50 Ultra Challenge incorporates the Minehead section of the Devon Coastal Path before tackling the ups and downs of Exmoor with over 1600 metres of climb!!

ELF's services include transport to and from appointments (vital for those in rural communities), counselling for patients and their loved ones, therapy treatments, and financial grants for patients whose income has been impacted by a blood cancer diagnosis. They also fund equipment and furnishings for the ward and provide Fellowships for the NHS team to expand their training and research in the field of haematology.

Please donate what you can to celebrate 'Frank's Big 21' and help us to achieve our goal for this wonderful charity who do so much for those affected by blood cancer.

Thank You!