Running, research and the NHS saved my life

September is Blood Cancer Awareness month, and in 2021, it marked the first month that I was finally able to take part in running challenges since Covid – this started with the Leeds 10K Run, and on the following week, my 16th Great North Run (GNR) in a row.

I was excited as it was my first ‘proper’ run for nearly two years due to both Covid and having a knee injury. Because of this, I wanted to find a way of making this run ‘extra special’. I couldn't think of anything better than running for a terrific cause with the NHS staff who helped save my life.

I was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) in 1997 and was put on watch and wait until having my first treatment in 2003. My final course of chemotherapy the following year almost killed me as I developed sepsis.

I felt lucky and grateful to have survived and so decided to take up running. I made a pledge to myself that if I survived, I would raise funds for Blood Cancer UK.

I trained like a person possessed and in just six months, I transformed from a drained, weakened, fragile shell to a happy, energised person – jumping around with joy after completing the Great North Run and raising funds to help beat blood cancer.

I ran every Great North Run Half Marathon for 15 years and always felt so tired afterwards, which is why I thought a marathon would be impossible.

My treatment on the clinical trial began in December 2019. I was lucky to have held out long enough to receive one of the new targeted treatments – the fruits of years of research as conventional chemotherapy would no longer have worked for me.

Unfortunately, as a side effect of the treatment, I developed terrible joint pains and had to stop running. I tried everything to get back to my previous fitness level, even speed walking and running in circles around my garden.

But then Covid came. I had one failed attempt after another to get back into running. This included knee pain, which turned into a stress fracture and left me in crutches for weeks.

The dream of once more returning to a running event is what kept me motivated to train. I also knew that when I returned, it had to be a special event.

I’m still being treated on the clinical trial at St James’s Hospital in Leeds. I’ve met wonderful doctors and nurses, some of which, I’m now pleased to call my ‘running buddies’.

At the start of my treatment on the trial, I met a clinical nurse specialist (CNS), Keri. To relieve my apprehension about the treatment, I spoke (a lot) about how running saved my life.

She smiled empathetically and told me she had once taken part in the Leeds 10K Run, and that a few of her colleagues are runners too. 

Last year, team ‘Blood Cancer United’ grew to have 11 runners. Some had never run before, which made it even more special. We were all enthused with the same determination to raise funds and complete the challenge, even if we had to crawl to the finish line.

Each setback only makes me more determined to run. This challenge was not about me. It was about all the people who have been affected in some way by blood cancer. It was about our running team and all the other fantastic volunteers, Blood Cancer UK ambassadors and fundraisers.

It was about all the people running, cycling, walking, and maybe even bungee jumping to raise funds for blood cancer research.

It was about all the frontline NHS workers who support people with blood cancer, like me. And it was about all the blood cancer researchers, who are only able to continue their life-saving work thanks to the generosity of donations.

Without these researchers, I would not be here today, as the older treatments would no longer have worked for me.

This neatly captures the spirit of these incredible events which we all have missed so much, and which have raised millions of pounds for worthy causes. They are a celebration of the good side of humanity, of resilience, and of the determination we all have so that one day, we can beat blood cancer for good.

At a recent appointment at ‘Jimmy’s,’ I spotted a familiar face and smiled. Then, another clinical nurse specialist, who I ran last year’s Leeds 10K with, entered the room.

“Are you running again this year?” I ask. “Yes, of course,” comes the quick reply. I have somehow managed to turn this appointment into a running management meeting!

I'm so excited to announce that team Blood Cancer United is once more raising funds in the Leeds 10K Run on 3rd July. Like last year, I'll be running with my friends and clinical nurse specialists at Jimmy’s. It is a great chance to support our clinical nurse specialists as their value for cancer support cannot be overstated.

I see this run as a celebration of the work of clinical nurse specialists everywhere.

I remember the first day of the clinical trial. After years without needing treatment, the sudden reality of progressing CLL hit me like a shockwave. I was worrying about an uncertain future. That’s when I was told that my primary contact would be Keri, a clinical nurse specialist. From our first chat, she seemed to help me get back in control.

However, a clinical nurse specialist provides so much more than just emotional support. To list a few, they have specialist knowledge and training and liaise directly with other specialists such as haematologists. They can communicate complex medical information in a way that is accessible and understandable. They also give personalised advice. And happily, it turns out that some of them at Leeds are also keen runners!

I'm so pleased that Keri and her colleagues will be running again with me. It would be nice to think that one day, all cancer patients will have a clinical nurse specialist like Keri.