We are Leukaemia UK. We believe research has the power to stop leukaemia devastating lives.

Despite decades of incredible progress, only half of leukaemia patients live longer than five years after their diagnosis. We won’t stop until we change this.

Bringing together the leukaemia community, we will accelerate progress through life-changing research, awareness and advocacy, doing everything we can to make sure that the next person with leukaemia has the best possible experience of diagnosis, treatment and care.

OUR STORY - A MUM LIKE DOREEN

I met my wife Doreen whilst we both served in the Army during July 1975 and after a whirlwind courtship of 6 weeks, I proposed and was honoured when she accepted. We married on the 4th October 1975 and were together for more than 49 years.

Doreen left the Army when she became pregnant with our first child Hayley and 4 years later we had a son Graeme and she was a proud and loving mum. I continued my military service that included deployments in the Falkland Islands, Bosnia and Iraq, before leaving in 2010 after 37 years’ service. I also had the honour to be awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) Medal in 2008, for operations in Iraq. Whilst we lived abroad and various locations throughout the UK Doreen had numerous jobs despite being a busy mum. When Hayley and Graeme were grown, Doreen whilst working enrolled on an Open University Degree Course in Business Management which led to a successful career as an international business analyst. We both retired and enjoyed having holidays, spending time together and with our adult children and nine grandchildren.

During late August 2021 Doreen developed a really intense headache that meant she had to stay in bed for several days. It wasn’t getting any better, so on 3rd September Doreen rang the NHS Helpline and after discussing her symptoms they informed her to go directly to A&E at Peterborough City Hospital as they suspected she had meningitis. She was immediately admitted and on 8th September we got the results of multiple tests. They found she had meningitis and several other infections with the underlying cause of all of this was Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML). Doreen was immediately put on medication for her meningitis and various infections and preparations were made to start her chemotherapy treatment for her AML. Doreen remained in hospital for three months having two rounds of intensive chemotherapy during which she nearly died. However, the treatment was successful and she gained remission. Her treatment was changed to a lower intensity chemotherapy and was informed that she may need a bone marrow transplant at a later stage. She was discharged from hospital in late January 2022 after her initial chemotherapy treatments. Between January 2022 and December 2023 our life revolved around attended the Haematology Day Unit two or three times a week for her chemotherapy, blood and bone marrow tests, plus her related treatments. Sadly in January 2024 a routine bone marrow biopsy showed a rise from 4% to 15% myeloid blasts; Doreen had relapsed. She was referred to Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge with a view to finding a bone marrow donor. She was given another round of intensive chemotherapy which made her really ill. The consultant then said she was too poorly to survive a transplant, but recommended another form of tablet chemotherapy treatment which he said may extend her life for maybe six months. She was admitted into Guys and St Thomas Hospital in London and received the treatment, but unfortunately it wasn’t successful.

I organised a surprise party to celebrate our 49th wedding anniversary on the 4th October 2024 with family and friends although Doreen was not particularly well. On the 21st October 2024 Doreen’s consultant discussed her options; continuing treatment many extend her life for six months, providing she didn’t get any more infections with a period in hospital or she may wish to consider having no further treatment, this would mean her quality of life would be better but her life expectancy would be 2 - 3 months. After much discussions with the family, on 27th October 2024 Doreen informed her consultant she didn’t want to have any more treatment. Palliative care was arranged at home via St Barnabas Hospice in Lincoln, but she was eventually admitted to hospital on the 4th December 2024 as she again became very ill. Doreen passed away peacefully on 16th December 2024.

I am exceptionally proud of my wife, as throughout her various treatments and many ups and downs on this emotional rollercoaster she never complained and bravely fought against this terrible and aggressive leukaemia disease, but sadly lost her battle. We as a family are most grateful to her consultant, all the staff at the Peterborough City, Addenbrookes and Guys and St Thomas Hospitals, whose total professional care was unequivocally exceptional in every respect, thank you.

I am heartbroken, but in memory of Doreen my wife; the love of my life, I am going to complete the “Camino De Santiago” from the French Southern border town of St. Jean Pied De Port to the Santiago De Compostela” located in the Northern Spanish City of Santiago. The Camino dates back to medieval times with the first documented pilgrimage route originating in the 9th century. It is a network of pilgrimage routes across Europe, most notably leading to the tomb of St James the Apostle in Santiago De Compostela, these routes are popular with hikers and are considered a spiritual path or retreat. I will walk the Camino Frances - Way of St James route, about 500 miles, raising vital funds for Leukaemia UK. I’m aiming for an average of 16 miles a day carrying my 11 kilograms rucksack on my back and it should take about 33 days from 7th August to 8th September 2025. My son Graeme, will walk the first five days with me and my daughter Hayley the last five days, making it a family affair in the memory of Doreen. An army friend Shane and his partner Kate have also kindly agreed to walk the final day with us.

Nearly 3,100 people are diagnosed with AML every year in the UK and on average almost 80% won’t survive beyond five years. It is one of the most aggressive forms of blood cancer and the most common acute leukaemia in adults. It strikes suddenly, often without warning and progresses rapidly. The disease presents differently in nearly every patient, making treatment uniquely challenging. Left untreated, AML can be fatal in a matter of months. Clinical trials are now more important than ever, not just to test new drugs, but to figure out how to use them in smarter, more effective ways. I have chosen Leukaemia UK because they bring together the leukaemia community so they can find and fund Life Changing research that matters most to prevent leukaemia devastating lives through research, awareness and advocacy. Also, because of the work the charity is doing to research treatments for AML not only to help people to survive, but to find kinder less harsh treatments.

This formidable challenge will test me physically, mentally and emotionally in a massive effort to raise £5000 for Leukaemia UK, a great charity and also in Doreen’s memory. I would therefore be most grateful in anticipation of everyone who is able to make a kind donation, it means a lot, thank you.

Love you forever 381 x