You may know me as Judith Patten or Judith Gunton ....I remember where I was (St Pancras Station in 2008) when my son Charlie Henderson broke the news on the phone to me that he had  leukaemia (it was a world-stopping moment). When a bone marrow transplant became necessary my daughter, Joanna, hoped she could be the vital donor. She didn't match, so she volunteered for the charity's R&B campaign going into schools to talk to 6th formers about the value of donating life saving marrow/stem cells (sadly she died in 2011 aged 41 when a routine operation went horribly wrong). 

Back to Charlie... a donor was found, but by 2012 another bone marrow transplant was needed. Sadly, despite magnificent care by a fabulous team at Bristol Royal Infirmary Charlie died in 2015 aged 39 (on Jo's birthday) and just under two months before his wife Carrie gave birth to their son Luke  (Both Charlie and Luke are May babies which makes this challenge very personal to my son)

Every day, Anthony Nolan saves the lives of people with a blood cancer or blood disorder. They do this by matching incredible individuals willing to donate their stem cells to people who desperately need a lifesaving transplant. They also carry out cutting edge scientific research, fund specialist post-transplant nurses and support patients and their families through the transplant process and beyond. The charity won’t stop until they save the lives of everyone who needs a stem cell transplant. Every penny you donate brings them closer to that day.

Help them to help all of those needing a transplant. The pain of losing a child (regardless of their age that's what they are to a parent) never lessens. C'mon feet get walking!