Leukaemia Patients Take Part in 100km Walk

---

To raise funds for research at Hammersmith Hospital

Four leukaemia patients from Hammersmith Hospital have taken part in an extraordinary 100km charity walk to raise money to support research into the blood cancer leukaemia.

The charity 100 km walk from Old Deer Park in Richmond to Brighton took place overnight last Saturday and Sunday. 1,751 people took part in the remarkable overnight fundraising walk.

Of the 18 patients, family and friends from Hammersmith Hospital who set out, 12 successfully finished the walk. The patients formed three teams, Team Fozzy, part of Team Peanuts and Leuka Skywalkers!

Michelle Richards, a bone marrow transplant patient at Hammersmith Hospital, says: " I discovered I had leukaemia in 2009 when I was 28 years old. I am now finally in remission and wanted to give something back to Leuka and the Hammersmith Hospital.

"Without their care and support, I would not be alive today."

You can read Michelle's blog, telling the story of her journey from transplant to finishing line on Leuka's website.
          
Leuka is the charity which helps to support leukaemia research and patients at Hammersmith Hospital. Leuka celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2012 and has embarked on fund raising for a major new £1.5 million research initiative with the internationally renowned centre of excellence for haematology at Imperial College, London.

Karen Linfield, Leuka community fundraising coordinator and hospital liaison at Hammersmith Hospital says: " “The progress made in recent years in the treatment of leukaemia is amazing. The fact that patients can be fit enough to undertake such a gruelling challenge is a testament to the work done here at the Hammersmith which has been supported by Leuka.  Twenty years ago it could not have happened.

"Congratulations to everyone who participated in this remarkable charity walk."

 

June 7, 2013