I’m cycling London to Paris to raise money for Cure Leukaemia, to support research to find cures and kinder treatments …for hope, time, life.

Cancer has touched our family many times in the last few years, but 12 months after breast cancer, my fiancée Helene was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive type of leukaemia, Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia (APML), which without treatment, on average, has a life expectancy of only 1-3 months.

Helene became very unwell, very quickly at home, she was admitted to hospital, had multiple diagnostics and was transferred to a specialist hospital for blood cancer - Manchester Royal Infirmary. Helene’s clinical team are exceptional; following confirmation of diagnosis she had a bone marrow aspirate, PICC line and started chemo the same day. For those that have experienced an acute leukaemia diagnosis, you will know, it’s a whirlwind of challenge and an extensive treatment journey (physically, mentally and emotionally) - for us 9 months of treatment, 66 doses of chemo, ongoing monitoring. Helene’s in remission and we’re starting to rebuild a life, but others aren’t as fortunate - research and clinical advancement is key.

A donation of any amount makes a difference to Cure Leukaemia, thank you. Helene & Dan

Cure Leukaemia helps blood cancer patients to access pioneering drug and transplant treatments by funding a network of specialist research nurses across the UK. Without these nurses, to ensure patients are monitored and cared for, clinical trials of these new treatments would not run and patients, that have exhausted standard treatment options, would miss out on potentially lifesaving therapies. Every penny raised for Cure Leukaemia helps save lives and also hastens global progress towards the eradication of all forms of blood cancer.