WHEN DONATING, PLEASE START YOUR MESSAGE WITH "FOR SICKLE CELL RESEARCH" THIS IS IMPORTANT, THANK YOU.

Gary and I will be taking part in the Bridge 10k Run on 30th September to raise money and awareness for Sickle Cell Anemia, a disease which sadly took the life of our dear friend Mike Streete in July at the age of just 30.

Sickle Cell Disease affects 12,500 people in the UK, most commonly in those with African, African-Caribbean origins. It is an inherited red blood cell disorder where red blood cells become hard, sticky and shaped like sickles causing them to clog the flow and break apart when travelling through the body delivering oxygen.

Mike was diagonsed with this disorder at the age of 18 months. During his life he bravely learnt to deal with the pain caused by this disorder. During these unimaginable painful episodes he would insist that friends and family shouldn't fuss and would use his humour to stop everybody from worrying.

Mike was a truly unforgetable character who touched the lives of many people. Mike was taken so young because of this illness and left behind his parents, siblings, a fiancee, and daughter due late September who he sadly did not get to meet. So this is our opportunity to do something in Mike's name for sufferers of Sickle Cell so that a cure may be found and further tragic losses can be prevented.

Those of you that know Gary and myself well will know that we are NOT runners! Nor is running something we enjoy! However we are determined to complete this race in Mike's memory and will be spending the coming weeks pounding the treadmill/pavement in training for this event so please dig deep and help us make a difference in Mike's name!

Rember to state "For Sickle Cell Research" on Your Donation.

Thank you,

Nicky and Gary