After many years of not running due to an injury, I’ve set myself the goal of training for a half marathon while raising funds for blood cancer research in memory of my father, Carlos Ondarza Villar, who passed away on September 29, 2024, from AML Leukaemia.

Cancer has already taken the lives of four of the most important people in my life: three grandparents, and now my father. It has also affected at least two other family members who are still battling this horrific disease.

My father was diagnosed with AML in March 2024. The rapid progression of this disease and its devastating toll on him is something I am still trying to process. His battle was short, yet incredibly hard. It involved weekly trips to the hospital, bi-weekly blood transfusions, endless hours in waiting rooms, misdiagnoses in A&E, long periods of isolation, and fast weight and muscle loss, among other struggles. Despite everything, he maintained an unwavering determination to fight cancer and continue living the life that awaited him.

What stands out most from watching my dad’s experience are the following:

* The high costs of medication and life-saving treatments.

* The stark inequalities in access to quality and timely medical care, often determined by economic capacity.

* The alarming shortage of blood donors to meet the demand.

Given my family’s history with cancer, I know that my own risk, as well as my children’s, is higher. This makes me even more determined to do whatever I can to help advance the search for cures, earlier detection, and ensure that everyone has access to high-quality, affordable care.

For these reasons, I am committed to my recovery and run this half marathon in his honour while raising funds for blood cancer research. I know he would be incredibly proud of me for doing this in his memory, and I’ll carry his spirit with me as I run every mile.

If you’ve made it this far, I want to thank you for reading my story and for your contribution to this important cause.

Every donation, no matter how small, brings us one step closer to improving treatments and ultimately finding a cure.

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About LIBRA:

I’ve chosen to fundraise for the Lions International Blood Research Appeal (LIBRA), the official charity for the Haematology Department at King’s College Hospital in London. The funds we raise will benefit patients with blood cancers and a range of blood disorders, including leukaemia, acute myeloid leukaemia, myeloma, sickle cell disease, and more.

These donations will help support the development of new and improved treatments for patients in the UK and worldwide. They will also fund the cost of essential ward and laboratory developments, as well as cutting-edge equipment vital for the treatment process.

Although this organization does not directly support cancer treatment in Mexico or the hospital where my father received care, I truly believe that any advancement in cancer research and treatment benefits everyone, no matter where they are.

Sincerely,

Paulina