We're back again! Raising money for Antony Nolan - a cost of living crisis & soaring electricity bills couldn’t stop us !

Some of you may have been here before, but if you haven't then here is the reason behind the famous Christmas Lights of Albany Road <3

So, my Dad started this all when my little brother Alex was diagnosed with Leukemia (ALL) at the age of 4.  When Alex was really poorly, Dad came up with the idea at Christmas to light up the house as a way of cheering him up when he was suffering from the side affects of that nasty chemotherapy. The evil stuff did the trick though, as Alex went into remission for 4 years and went on to finish primary school and start at secondary school for a fresh start. This however soon turned out to not be the case, as just after starting in Year 7, we found out that Alex had relapsed and the Cancer was back.

This time though, it came back stronger then before and the chemotherapy just wasn't doing anything. At the age of 11, Alex spent the Christmas of that year in Hospital being told he had a 4% chance of survival. At this point, the only hope we had of saving Alex's life was a bone marrow transplant, something notoriously difficult for people of mixed & ethnic minority groups to find due to the lack of donors from those communities. 

Me & our other siblings & our parents were all tested to see if we would be a match for Alex and could donate the life saving bone marrow ourselves - but we weren't! Our only chance was to turn to Antony Nolan!

Luck as on our side as soon after we were referred a donor match was found!!!Alex went on to have his radiotherapy & his bone marrow transplant whilst at Great Ormond Street Hospital - and thank god - everything went well! Alex will have life long side affects that are now part of his everyday life, but he's still here and with us and that's all that matters! 

My Dad vowed after the transplant that he would use the Christmas lights as a way of raising money for Antony Nolan charity every year to repay a debt that we could never settle. All we hope is that they continue to bring joy to people who have enjoyed them for years, people who are experiencing them for the first time and anyone who might just need a little something to make them smile for a second! If you had some spare pennies - no matter the amount - and could spare a donation then it would be greatly appreciated! A £1 would mean the world in this current climate!!!!!

If you can share our link / information on social media so we can share the love even further and hopefully raise even more money then even better!!!!

Without Antony Nolan - Alex wouldn't be the 27 year old that he is here today & our story would have had a very different ending! Merry Christmas to you all & thank you for all your support!

 All our love - The Mustafa's 

Every day, Anthony Nolan saves the lives of people with a blood cancer or blood disorder. We do this by matching incredible individuals willing to donate their stem cells to people who desperately need a lifesaving transplant. We also carry out cutting edge scientific research, fund specialist post-transplant nurses and support patients and their families through the transplant process and beyond. We won’t stop until we save the lives of everyone who needs a stem cell transplant. Every penny you donate brings us closer to that day.