Alison, Judith, Rona and Sian DID It..... a hugely emotional and celebratory day for each of us. Please see our individual stories for photos and videos captured on the big day itself. It's worth noting that although each one of us achieved this huge run individually, it was our group unity that really did it - we supported each other completely and willed and wished each other on, every step of the way. A MASSIVE T H A N K Y O U to everyone for your support - in every way xxxxxx

We've been running together for a few years, some of us for decades. We've often travelled far to run in some very nice places but, on the whole, Amersham in Buckinghamshire has been our regular stomping ground. It was whilst running that Sian (the Welsh one) first noticed symptoms and started to look into it. She was diagnosed with MDS, a rare and fatal form of Leukaemia. The initial prognosis wasn't good with an unknown reduced life expectancy.

Whilst further investigations and treatment plans were being carried out, Sian's Leukaemia deteriorated into Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) - a very aggressive form of the disease which required an urgent and life saving stem cell transplant. This offered a remarkable chance for a cure: if a donor could be found and Sian could survive the treatment, it would offer a second chance at life... it was a tremendous opportunity. Fortunately Anthony Nolan managed to find Sian a 100% donor match and she had the transplant in April 2022 which has been a huge success.

Somewhere in Oxford is a young 24 year old girl who donated her stem cells and helped save Sian's life and has given her a second chance at life. This girl's selfless actions has had a profound effect on Sian, her family and friends. All of this would not have been possible if it were not for Anthony Nolan and the amazing bone marrow transplant team at NHS Churchill Hospital in Oxford.

Sian will get to meet her donor in 2024 - the same year in which we will run the Marathon together. We have all been effected by Sian's illness and her recovery and each of us wanted to do something that goes in someway to say thank you to Anthony Nolan and more importantly, help them to help other people like Sian.

Judith, Rona, Alison and Sian are now preparing for the marathon and organising a number of fundraising events. The money raised will all go toward Anthony Nolan and the more money they have, the more people they can save - please donate whatever you can, no matter how small, to help others get their second chance at life.