As many of you will already know well I was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia back in 2003 and underwent a bone marrow transplant in May the following year.

Thankfully the transplant was a success and I've been fundraising and supporting blood cancer charities ever since as I'm desperate to give others the same second chance at life that I've given.

So far I've raised more than £125,000 through various exploits which peaked so far in 2011 when I ran from John O'Groats to Land's End dressed in a Mr Happy suit. Sadly such feats are now beyond me as I've developed a serious and degenerative lung condition which the treatment team believe is a direct result of the chemo and radiotherapy that I had to undergo to beat blood cancer.

This hasn't dampened my enthusiasm to support Bloodwise but it has meant that I've had to alter my approach. This has included me joining the charity and setting up a Patient Ambassador programme which aims to help support patients and their families through blood cancer and raise awareness about the fantastic support and information that it offers.

It's also about raising money to help the cause and this year we have set ourselves a collective fundraising target of £250,000 which will go straight in to the next round of research funding later this year.

To do my bit I will be taking part in a number of fundraising challenges over the course of the year alongside my fellow Ambassadors who'll also be doing their own fundraising challenges in our bid to reach the 250k target.

Here's what I've got lined up so far:

1. Walking to Wembley from my home in Tooting to watch Arsenal in the FA Cup Final - I promised one of the Ambassadors I would do this if I got a ticket to partially make up for not being able to join her on the Brighton Challenge walk after getting my final ticket. DONE

2. Great Newham Run alongside one of my fellow Ambassadors Lisa Griffiths in support of her son Hugo who is still undergoing maintenance treatment for childhood ALL.

3. Three Peaks Challenge alongside anybody who cares to join me

4. London Bikeathon as part of a patient ambassador team

5. Bournemouth 10k in a costume TBC

Research is the key to beating blood cancer and is the only reason that I'm still here today so please do give generously as and when you can.

Thanks,

Andy