Updated on May 13th 2011 at 3:46 PM from the JustGiving API

Target almost 50% please help me by donating even £1 towards my chosen charity. Bright Red gives blood cancer patients the chance of life, my brother was too late to recieve this help please with your help we can give others the chance of living. The page will be running til october, Lee's 10th anniversary xxx

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

On 15th October 2001 my brother Lee Donovan aged 18 lost his year long battle with Acute Myloid Leukaemia. Realising just how many lives are affected by various blood cancers myself and my family have fundraised 10 years for the chosen charity. After losing Lee fundraising has became a huge part of our lives. The only thing i can now do for my brother is keep his memory alive raising awareness and helping other families who find themselves in the awful situation we once were. It has helped me greatly in dealing with my grief, doing all i can for a charity which has became extremely close to my heart.

On 14th May 2011 i am taking a challenge to trek the Great Wall of China and have set myself a target to raise £10,000 in Lee's memory. My trekking challenge starts in Jinshanling. It's a vigorous trek that loops along the mountains either side of the Gubeikou Gateway. Each day i shall be trekking approx 12kms (5-6hrs) along the mountains with many steep crumbling staircases and ruined watchtowers, it promises to be very demanding! For me far more than just physically, why? i smoke far too much, i am overweight and have used every excuse known to avoid any fitness regime. In my amazing avoidance techniques if there's an easy way of doing something believe me, i found it! To prepare myself as you will guess i am undergoing a complete lifestyle change, its much needed as my biggest fear is failing in any way what i have pledged to do for my little bro. The challenge is self funded as my wishes are for all sponsorship money to go directly to Bright Red. 

If you can help me in my cause it would be greatly appreciated. Every donation, no matter how small makes a difference. Thank you so much for your time and support!... wish me luck!! :))

My reasons for Bright Red and a little more of my story 

Since Lee passed away i am having to come to terms with so many different emotions. One of the hardest is guilt. Guilt that i was unable to help my brother when he needed me the most.

After discovering the best match for a bone marrow transplant would come from me the process of being tested began. I was completely devastated to hear i wasn't a match, we all desperatley wanted Lee back in good health. The next step was finding the perfect match. We were in complete high spirits when a man came through the testing process, planned a party before the transplant date and were so hopeful things would all come good, it was short lived.  A week before due in hospital Lee was told the donor had pulled out without reason. Lee now was unfortunately racing against time, keeping his health until a new donor could be brought forward. The cancer was too aggressive and all hope was lost.

Bright Red supports marrow and stem cell transplant, leukaemia and lymphoma research in Northern England. In 1996 the cord blood bank was established and in 2001 the first transplant took place. 2004 seen a new research centre opening, 35 personnel researching into leukaemia, lymphoma, marrow and stem cell transplant are currently at work but only 25% have permanent funding - continual support is needed to keep the program progressing, more so as new plans are ahead for major European collaborations looking into the complications of marrow transplantation.

Problems arise dependent on age and some relapsed patients currently do not respond appropriately to treatment, much more research is needed and a program to work on ways of predicting high risk patients. Although the cord bank can no longer collect new samples due to lack of funds, 12 lives have been saved to date with transplants using products from the existing bank. To reinstate collection, run the bank efficiently and also allow the laboratory teams advance in additional research into cord blood success please help, ongoing support will always be needed.

I believe far too many families have been affected and destroyed by these cancers, this research and treatment can and will answer the prayers of many patients and their families.

 

If you have read to the end a very big well done lol sorry once i start I'm unable to stop but i would like to give you the full why's who's and what-for's  and hopefully persuade you to click 'donate'

A huge thank you to all who have supported us, your help really means a lot, from myself my family and bright red

xxx