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The Zonta Club of Guildford is a member of Zonta International, whose mission is to improve the welfare of women locally and globally through service and advocacy. We have been supporting Home-Start Guildford since our foundation in 2010 and we are delighted and proud to have John Applebee running on our behalf for Home-Start in the Brighton Marathon on 14 April.

The Brighton marathon will be John's 46th marathon since he recovered from Leukemia. When John and his wife Margot had twins their Home-Start provided them with invaluable support. Here is his story.

John was diagnosed with leukaemia shortly after his 24 birthday in 1988. He had just left the navy after 7 years service and was adjusting to civilian life and a new job but he accepted the diagnosis philosophically and decided to enjoy the six months waiting for his marrow transplant eating well, drinking well and generally living life to the full. Although he admits that his health was in severe decline as his immune system was gradually switched off in preparation for his operation he remembers the time as “the best fun”. Eventually in March 1989 he underwent surgery with bone marrow donated by his sister and began his convalescence to a full recovery.

Some years later he met and married his wife Margot and they decided to have a family. John was pleased that he had followed the medics’ advice to save some of his sperm before the chemotherapy and radiation. A second try at IVF resulted in the conception of twins but their delight turned to concern when it became apparent that there was a problem. George and Lily were born in 2008 and from the start George needed intensive care to keep him breathing through the nights with a collapsed lung. Coping with twins is challenging at the best of times but the added worry of a baby with a severe medical disorder was indescribably stressful and tested them to the limit.

John has nothing but praise for the hospitals where George was treated and the conscientious NHS carers who were regularly on hand. Above all he remains grateful to Sue, their Home-Start helper and friend who gave them moral encouragement and practical support through those difficult times. “It was hard anyway, but without Sue it would have been unbearably tough,” he says.

The twins are going on five and life has settled down. Lily is lively and enterprising and gives George an incentive to participate in the normal activities of childhood in spite of his condition. Margot and John are committed and able parents but are still pleased that Sue calls in every now and again just to keep in touch. 

In overcoming the difficulties that life has put in his path with patience and courage John has shown a huge strength of character. The Brighton Marathon will be his 46 after his leukaemia episode and the Zonta Guildford club are incredibly proud that he has agreed to represent us in this event. Zonta Guildford will donate the money raised to Home-Start and we urge all our friends and supporters to join in our sponsorship.

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