London Marathon on donor DNA🧬🏃
London Marathon on donor DNA🧬🏃
My Story
On March 11th, 2021, just a day after celebrating my partner's birthday and only four weeks into a new job, life threw an unexpected curveball: I was diagnosed with ALL, a particularly aggressive form of blood cancer.
Over the ensuing nine months, my journey became a whirlwind of treatments – both conventional and cutting-edge, eventually leading up to a last resort life-saving stem cell transplant. This procedure first kils off my own bonemarrow (the inside of your bones, where blood is produced) and then injects donor stemcells which form into a new bonemarrow, producing new healthy (donor) blood.
My remarkable sister emerged as a perfect donor match. The value of a perfect match cannot be overstated - with a weak or no match - the procedure would simply not happen and I would go into palliative care.
Not everyone is as fortunate to have a sibling match readily available though. Anthony Nolan raises awareness for their donor registry and does critical research into stemcell therapies. Their efforts drive the development of groundbreaking treatments that offer hope to people facing similar battles.
Now approximately 2.5 years post-transplant, I am still working on my recovery. I've been trying to start running again for the past few years with steep ups and downs. Donor organs are always challenging, taking a toll on your body's energy supply and weakening the immune system. However, while it's challenging, the past few years has been amazing and I'm committed to paying forward the second chance I've been granted.
With a steady frown of my doctor as motivation, I'll be running the London 2024 Marathon raising funds for Anthony Nolan.
A stemcell transplant was the last resort treatment for my disease. All or nothing. Join me in raising funds for Anthony Nolan; so they can help match donors and patients - saving the lives of those with blood cancer.
..
P.S. Fun fact: Did you know that post-transplant, I'm essentially powered by my sister's blood? With her stem cells coursing through my veins, my body now hosts two strands of DNA. If you were to take a skin sample, you'd find my original DNA. But draw blood, and you'll discover something fascinating: female DNA, a testament to the marvels of science and the bond we now share. How cool is that?
-
Target
£1,950
-
Raised so far
£1,050
-
Number of donors
37
My Story
On March 11th, 2021, just a day after celebrating my partner's birthday and only four weeks into a new job, life threw an unexpected curveball: I was diagnosed with ALL, a particularly aggressive form of blood cancer.
Over the ensuing nine months, my journey became a whirlwind of treatments – both conventional and cutting-edge, eventually leading up to a last resort life-saving stem cell transplant. This procedure first kils off my own bonemarrow (the inside of your bones, where blood is produced) and then injects donor stemcells which form into a new bonemarrow, producing new healthy (donor) blood.
My remarkable sister emerged as a perfect donor match. The value of a perfect match cannot be overstated - with a weak or no match - the procedure would simply not happen and I would go into palliative care.
Not everyone is as fortunate to have a sibling match readily available though. Anthony Nolan raises awareness for their donor registry and does critical research into stemcell therapies. Their efforts drive the development of groundbreaking treatments that offer hope to people facing similar battles.
Now approximately 2.5 years post-transplant, I am still working on my recovery. I've been trying to start running again for the past few years with steep ups and downs. Donor organs are always challenging, taking a toll on your body's energy supply and weakening the immune system. However, while it's challenging, the past few years has been amazing and I'm committed to paying forward the second chance I've been granted.
With a steady frown of my doctor as motivation, I'll be running the London 2024 Marathon raising funds for Anthony Nolan.
A stemcell transplant was the last resort treatment for my disease. All or nothing. Join me in raising funds for Anthony Nolan; so they can help match donors and patients - saving the lives of those with blood cancer.
..
P.S. Fun fact: Did you know that post-transplant, I'm essentially powered by my sister's blood? With her stem cells coursing through my veins, my body now hosts two strands of DNA. If you were to take a skin sample, you'd find my original DNA. But draw blood, and you'll discover something fascinating: female DNA, a testament to the marvels of science and the bond we now share. How cool is that?
