Two years ago, my four year old niece Rachel was diagnosed with Philadelphia positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a rare form of leukaemia. Cancer has touched our family too many times already but it was just not fair when it hit such a bright, energetic young child. Over the last two years Rachel has undergone a gruelling regime of chemotherapy together with countless transfusions, general anaesthetics, scans and x-rays. The toxicity of the treatment has been brutal and the lack of funding for childhood cancer has shocked us all.

There are few chemotherapy drugs that have been specifically developed for childhood cancer and many of these were first used over 40 years ago. Rachel’s Rainbow Dashers has been set up to raise funds for Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG). Their aim is to find better, more palatable treatments and to beat childhood cancer.

To raise funds for CCLG I am joining in the challenge to achieve 1 million steps from 1^st April to 31^st May. This is going to be tough and my back and knees are already screaming at the prospect. However, this will fail to compare with the pain and suffering which Rachel has endured over the last two years as she has undergone her treatment.

It would be great if you are able to sponsor me. Any donation, no matter how small will be much appreciated.