I’m finally ready to open up and share my very personal story behind why I’m taking on this big challenge to raise money for a charity that deserves all the support. 

Leukaemia Care is supporting those who got diagnosed with leukaemia as well as their loved ones on their journey through shock, illness, recovery and loss. 

I appreciate that not everyone can donate in the current climate and that’s okay. After reading my story I hope to inspire you to at least acknowledge when something feels wrong, seek support where needed or consider to sign up to a donor list (blood, stem cells, bone marrow). 

It’s exactly one year since to this day of posting that I’ve lost my special person.

After just one week of illness, mistaken for a bad respiratory infection, my partner passed away from AML - Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. 

Just a couple weeks prior we were enjoying our trip in Africa and he had inspired me to hit my goal of running 5km by the end of 2022. This was something I didn’t dream of doing after having been in hospital for a punctured and collapsed lung earlier that year and struggling with my returned asthma.

He patiently ran with me along the beach, was generally my biggest cheerleader in life and celebrated my successes with me. He had such a positive impact on me and others. 

Whilst riding all the heavy waves of grief I decided to hold on to his motivational encouragement and started running regularly 5-8kms - just like he did back then. 

Despite some setbacks in the form of a sprained ankle, I started to enjoy the runs and wondered how I could take it to the next level. He always said that the London Landmarks Half is such a great run for a first timer, but when I checked the ballet, it was already closed. 

Only a few weeks later, in a vulnerable and sad moment, I got an ad for last minute openings to run the LLH - raising money for Leukaemia Care. As if it was meant to be, I applied for a spot and got the ticket! 

I won’t get my person back, but I hope to encourage everyone to listen to their bodies telling them when something isn’t right. As the name indicates, AML can occur acute and progress fast without many warning signs and with little understanding of causes. Get yourself checked out, sign up for the donor list if healthy and if not that, then please leave some donations here. 

Leukaemia Care is doing amazing work and I would love to raise as much money for this cause by pushing through my grief and physical boundaries one kilometre at a time. 

Sending hugs to those donating and thoughts to everyone affected by leukaemia.