A year ago this month, after a chairing a few routine morning meetings, I received a call from a doctor at Lewisham Hospital telling me I had to get to the nearest A&E within an hour because my immune system was completely compromised. I was whisked away from ITN, given a double blood transfusion and told that I probably had leukaemia. I was extremely lucky to be alive.

I’d been feeling unwell and I’d been to see my GP just a few days earlier. He couldn’t offer a specific diagnosis - I didn’t even have a temperature - but he sent me for a precautionary blood test which I now know helped save my life.

A biopsy led to a diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, or ALL. It’s an incredibly aggressive and totally arbitrary disease which can affect anyone of any age, and at any time… and nobody knows why.

After nearly 50 rounds of chemo, several thousand pills and a stem cell transplant I am slowly returning to full fitness, and last week I began a phased return to work.

I have nothing but admiration and respect for people who set themselves punishing personal challenges to raise awareness and funding for charities which do amazing work, but the truth is I have nothing like their energy levels either. I’d love to be able to announce that I am planning to cycle up a mountain or run a marathon, but I simply can’t do anything like that just yet. 

I’m only running on about two thirds energy and immunity, and I am quite a long way from full fitness. A friend suggested I should shave my head but as most of you know, after the chemo, that won’t reveal anything you haven’t already seen!

Whilst I’m not (yet) in a position to take on a physical challenge, I am, mercifully, still here to report that I’m the living and breathing evidence that research saves lives, and I want to do whatever I can to raise awareness and to give something back to the organisations which fund the research which ultimately saved my life. September is blood cancer awareness month, and I’ve chosen Bloodwise, which funds research into all types of blood cancer.

I hope that on this occasion the power of persuasion rather than the pedal will provoke some thought and hopefully generate interest in the work of the charities which fund research into blood cancers such as leukaemia - a disease which, without such incredible advancements in medical science, would have taken my life.