First of all, welcome and thank you for taking time to visit my fundraising page.

2020 has been a difficult year for all of us. With social distancing measures and mass sports events being understandably cancelled, charities have been cut from and important source of fundraising. I was supposed to take part in Blenheim and London Triathlon this summer, and I had finally managed to secure a spot in London Prudential Ride, but all of these events have been either cancelled or postponed to 2021. It has been difficult to fundraise from abroad without an event to be sponsored for, but finally a DIY challenge presented itself.

I have been spending some time in the mountains in northern Spain (in home-office), and i realised I am only a few kilometres away from one of the most iconic climbs of Vuelta a España: La Camperona, where usually one of the stages finishes. My challenge will be to complete the 400 m ascend in just 3 km, average gradient of 12% (peaking at 20%) before leaving the region on August 1st. And i am (yet again) asking you to sponsor me for Blood Cancer UK with any amount you can spare in these difficult times. It will be hard, but your donations will help me along the way. Thank you

My story

I first started fundraising for Blood Cancer UK (formerly Bloodwise) in 2015 when I cycled to Paris for the first time. Truth be told, I initially took it more as a challenge rather than a fundraiser. I was a bit depressed from living in London and training for such a long ride gave me a purpose and helped me sort out my life. The event turned out to be so much more than a physical challenge. In the four days on two wheels I met more awesome people than in the previous three years I had been living in the Capital. People who tirelessly invest their time and energy to be involved in a cause they are passionate about. Some of them survivors, in remission, some still in treatment. Fighters, all of them. People who became my dear friends and have been my friends ever since. Some of them would not be here if it wasn't for the fantastic work Blood Cancer UK (back then known as Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research) has been doing since many years.

I have been raising money to help funding research on all forms of blood cancer ever since, I participated in other events for Blood Cancer UK, such as Blenheim and London Triathlons, various London Bikeathons and London to Paris ride again in 2016, and even though I left the country in 2017, but joined the Blood Cancer UK team once again in 2018 and 2019, because I believe our joint effort to beat blood cancers is an important thing, and we will not stop until no one dies from these horrible diseases anymore.

Internationality

II am not a UK citizen or resident. I left the country in June 2017, yet I still continue to support a UK charity (for reasons explained above). I am aware that many of the people who sponsored me in the past are not British or based in the UK, and some of them may be understandably asking why should they support a charity based in a foreign country. Blood Cancer UK funds research, and research is by definition shared among the international scientific community, in form of conferences, peer-reviewed publications, international research projects and groups. Thiswill not change with Brexit.

About Blood Cancer UK

Blood Cancer UK are the UK's leading blood cancer research charity.Blood cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the UK. And while huge progress has been made in improving treatment since we started in 1960, it is still the third biggest cause of UK cancer deaths – taking more lives each year than breast or prostate cancer. Everything we do is focused on improving the lives of everyone affected by blood cancer. Research: We fund research to improve treatment and care for people living with all types of blood cancer, including leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Support & information: We provide everyone affected by blood cancer with information they can trust, in language they can understand. Campaign: We are the voice of the 240,000 people in the UK with blood cancer at senior levels of Government, Parliament and the NHS.

About JustGiving

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity. Also, if you are a taxpayer in the UK, do not forget to click on Gift Aid option.