Trying a Tri and Thinking of Joe

Two wonderful women, of whom I’m lucky to call my friends, have inspired (and persuaded) me to challenge myself this year, by way of a triathlon. They’re doing it, too. We’re all in it together. So, it’ll be fun … when it’s finished.

To spur me on, to keep my legs moving and my arms flapping, I’m raising money in aid of LEUKAEMIA & MYELOMA RESEARCH UK in memory of my totally brilliant cousin, Joe.

At the young age of 17, Joe was diagnosed with a very aggressive myeloid leukaemia. His incredible mum was recovering from breast cancer herself at the time, but none of us really knew what was to come.

After three and a half years of fighting, many rounds of chemo, two bone marrow transplants, and months and months at a time spent in hospital, and despite receiving the best of care and given the most up to date treatment, we lost our Joe on the 17th November 2023. I am, and will always be, certain he crossed paths somewhere somehow with our beautiful daughter who carries his name within hers, who was born the next day.

There is lots of research being done to fight this aggressive cancer, and it needs more funding. Therefore, I aim to raise £500 for the Leukaemia and Myeloma Research Charity, by doing a novice triathlon this Good Friday. Myself, and those two brilliant women I mentioned will be popping on our tri suits to complete a 200m swim; 11km cycle; 2.5k run. Neither of us have ever done anything like this before, AND we all had babies just 16 months ago. We’re determined to cross that finish line and share a very large sweaty hug with each other when we do.

Although I can’t ever imagine Joe would have fancied a triathlon himself, not quite his thing, I know he’d be proud of me giving one a go in aid of a charity he wanted to support.

Your donation, however small, will go a long way to help many other families whose lives have been affected by this devastating cancer.

Every donation, no matter the size, will help someone.

Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me and my family.

More information about LEUKAEMIA & MYELOMA RESEARCH UK: Our mission is to make blood cancer sufferers able to receive more effective treatment in the future. We are willing to fight blood cancer regardless of how long it might take.