Some of you will be aware that in June 2018, our son, Benjamin was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. He was ten years old at the time and our family of five stayed positive throughout his treatment.

Part of that treatment, as Ben was found to be high risk, meant that he would have to undergo a stem cell transplant. As a family and as a parent, I cannot begin to express the worry that brings every minute of every day and then the utter joy and relief of hearing the news that a donor has been found for your child.

Benny underwent a stem cell transplant in October of 2018. We were blessed with having him home again, almost six months to the day of his diagnosis, just before Christmas 2018. It was to be our last Christmas together as a physical family of five. It was understated and so precious.

We enjoyed a further ten months together as a family, following his transplant. Ben and his sisters, myself and his Dad are so grateful for DKMS for their unending support throughout our cancer journey and this is my way of trying to raise awareness and do something in my beautiful son's name, who died in my arms in August 2019, just after his 12th birthday.

I have taken it upon myself, while in isolation, to run on my running machine at home, or on my one hour's exercise a day, if we are still able to do that in May and to run 120 miles during the month of May.

In the days before Ben died, he told me he would look down on all the statues I built for him. This is a metaphorical one, which I hope he will see from where he is. I love him so much and I know that right now, there are thousands of families waiting for a stem cell donor. You could be that person, who has the chance to save their life.

Thank you for your support and for signing up if you can.

Last year DKMS were able to register 228,000 potential blood stem cell donors. It costs £40 to register each potential donor, and add them to the list of lifesavers on stand-by. Without them, and without amazing donors to pay for their registration, blood cancer patients might not get a second chance at life.Please sponsor my run, and help more blood cancer patients to find their match!