Most of you don’t know that my dad was diagnosed last year with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Thankfully, the treatment he received at the Leukaemia & Lymphoma unit at University College London Hospital saved his life - a world turned upside down is once again right side up. On 20th Sept I’m doing a sponsored walk across six London bridges with my dad, to raise money for the unit so patients can benefit from the research, treatment and services offered by UCLH and have the best shot of survival. I can’t thank them enough for what they did for my dad, but the least I can do is walk over a bridge or two (or six). If you can, please sponsor us. It’s for a really worthy cause.

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/marks_team

(To support us by sponsoring this event use this link, not the Donate button in the margin).

We’ve had a fantastic response so far with over £500 being pledged - many thanks to everyone for their generosity. Still plenty of time to go before September 20th!

[I’ve temporarily removed the Donate button in the right margin to prevent people from mistakenly using it to donate to this Appeal. Anyone who has done so can rest assured that I will pass the money on to the Appeal with no need for further action from themselves. - Mark]

Update on Monday, July 27, 2015 at 11:22 by Registered CommenterMark Forster

Comments

Author: Caibre65 Date: 2015-07-23

Anna

Will certainly sponsor you. All the best.

Author: Mark Forster Date: 2015-07-23

Thanks, Caibre65 - much appreciated.

Author: Neil Cumming Date: 2015-07-23

Hi Anna,

Your father’s books and systems have been such a help (and inspiration!) for me over over the last few years. I’d be delighted to sponsor you as a small token of my gratitude. Good luck and well done. :-)

Author: Chris Cooper Date: 2015-07-24

Thanks to you, Anna, Mark and your team-mates for doing this. I feel fitter just reading about the Bridgeathon

Author: Anna Forster Date: 2015-07-24

Thank you everyone for your very kind and generous donations – it is very much appreciated.

Author: Smeatho Date: 2015-07-24

Done. Good luck to Mark and the team.

Author: Christian G. Date: 2015-07-24

Great idea - you can count on me. Your father helped me so much with the systems he developed, now I can give something back

Author: Will Date: 2015-07-27

I’ve donated £10. I confirm that I am a UK taxpayer for gift aid, if the charity is looking for that.

Cheers,

Will

Author: Mark Forster Date: 2015-07-27

Will:

« I’ve donated £10. I confirm that I am a UK taxpayer for gift aid, if the charity is looking for that.»

Unfortunately you used the donation box in the right margin instead of the link in the blog post, and I will be unable to claim Gift Aid on that it is not a charity account. I’ve temporarily removed the box to prevent anyone else from making the same mistake.

We’re still very grateful for your donation though!

Author: Roger Jones Date: 2015-08-04

Dear Anna,

I have missed this in the hurly-burly of work out here in Kampala, Uganda. I will donate next week when I am home in the UK for two weeks and this is why . . . .

It is 20 years ago this month that my wife started her treatment for Multiple Myeloma, another cancer of the blood, treatable, not yet curable.

On 1 February 1996 Gill had an autologous bone marrow transplant (harvested from her own bone marrow five months earlier). A tough six weeks in the BM Transplant Unit, Every 1 February since then, we have celebrated as her ‘other birthday’, and in a variety of places.

She is now the longest living BMT myeloma patient in Herefordshire and beyond. Not only has she been able to see our own children grow up, but to be Grandma to our three grandchildren (so far).

Also, she has been able to join me in many places on my work abroad, currently I am working in Kampala, Uganda.

A blessing and many thanks for prayers and bio-chemical engineering.

I have recounted this in the hope that it may bring hope to others who may be going through something similar.

Roger J

Author: Mark Forster Date: 2015-08-04

Roger:

Thank you very much for your promise of support. I’ll pass your message on to Anna, who I know will be thrilled to hear about your wife’s successful treatment. I had an autologous stem-cell transplant, which is a bit less harrowing - but yes, a “new life” is what you get!

Author: Anna Forster Date: 2015-08-05

Thank you for sharing your story Roger. It’s wonderful to hear your wife is still here years after her diagnosis and has had the chance to see her children grow up, meet all her grandchildren and is living life to the full. So many people are taken too early but it’s incredible the things that can be done to help so many too.

We really appreciate your support and are extremely grateful to everyone who has donated.