In 2019, I was about to begin the nearly 1,000 mile Land’s End to John ‘O’ Groats (LEJOG) bike ride when I was unexpectedly diagnosed with bone marrow cancer and needed a stem cell transplant. The ride was postponed, and life took a very different turn.

Each year, around 2,000 people in the UK need a stem cell transplant from a matching donor. Finding one is far from guaranteed: 30% of northern European patients don’t find one, and this rises to 80% for people from Black, Asian, or minority ethnic backgrounds.

Anthony Nolan plays a crucial role by maintaining a register of 720,000 potential donors and funding research into blood cancers and disorders. Luckily they found a donor for me, and together with the exceptional NHS care at Manchester Royal Infirmary, they gave me a second chance.

Now I’m attempting LEJOG again, this time with my friend Vince. We’re aiming to raise £10,000 for Anthony Nolan to help more people receive the treatment they desperately need.

Your support, in any amount, would be hugely appreciated.

There’s also a pressing need for more people to join the stem cell register. If you’re eligible, please consider it. Details are here: https://www.anthonynolan.org/front/facts-and-stats

Thank you for considering our appeal.