On Sunday 12th of April I will be running the London Landmarks Half Marathon in memory of my late mother, Oguljennet Gylyjova.

This year marks 10 years since she passed away, when I was at the age of 12. She developed a rare blood disease called aplastic anaemia, which came out of nowhere and took her from us in just 4 months.

I have always wanted to do something in her memory but never quite had the courage. This year finally feels like the right moment — and running past the landmarks of her favourite city feels especially meaningful.

I will be running this race for Anthony Nolan, a UK charity that saves the lives of people with blood cancer and rare blood disorders who need stem cell transplants. The organisation works to recruit and match volunteer donors with patients in need, fund vital research to improve transplant outcomes, and provide support to patients and their families throughout treatment. By raising awareness and encouraging more people to join the stem cell register, Anthony Nolan helps give patients a second chance at life.

One of the biggest challenges families like mine face is finding a suitable stem cell donor. People from minority ethnic backgrounds are more likely to have unique tissue types — the specific combination of HLA genes used to match patients and donors for transplants. This means it can be much harder to find a fully matched donor. Sadly, this was one of the difficulties we experienced firsthand when my mum became ill. For many patients today, joining the stem cell register could be the difference between life and death. I have signed up to join and if you are eligible, I would strongly encourage you to do the same, especially if you are from a minority background. It is a simple process, but it has the potential to change or even save someone’s life.

I would be incredibly grateful for any donation to support this great charity, big or small. My company also offers donation matching, meaning that every £1 you give will be doubled — so your support can go even further.

Thank you so much.