On the 26th May 2019 myself (Lizzie), Heather, Lucy and Sally will be running the Edinburgh Half Marathon in order to raise money for the Paul O'Gormon Leukaemia Research Centre (POG) which is based at Gartnavel Hospital in Glasgow.

We have chosen to raise money for this charity as it is very close to my heart.  The POG was opened in 2008 and my Auntie, Professor Tessa Holyoake, was the Director of the research facility.  She was so passionate about the POG and she led the effort to raise the massive £2.6 million needed to build it.  The main focus of the research at the POG is based on the haemopoietic stem cell.  If weakened this can cause many different kinds of leukaemia, cancer of the blood.  The POG researches these stem cells in order to discover new and innovative drugs that are used to treat leukaemia.

Sadly in August of 2017 my Auntie Tessa passed away.  I have therefore chosen to raise money for the POG in memory of Auntie Tessa as it was such a huge part of her life.  When my 3 friends Heather, Lucy and Sally suggested doing the Edinburgh half marathon it seemed like a fantastic opportunity to raise money for such an important cause that is so special to me.  They all kindly offered to join me in raising money for the POG which I honestly cannot thank them enough for.  

Wish us luck xx