I was diagnosed with CML in October 2010 and since then I've decided to spend most of this year raising money for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research (www.beatbloodcancers.org). Having always been an active person, CML wasn't going to stop that and I'm currently in training to do the 140 mile Coast to Coast bike ride between Whitehaven and Tynemouth in June this year. After attending the conference in Liverpool in January nothing suggested that I shouldn't be doing such exercise and after meeting one or two of you it spurred me on even more.
I'm on Imatinib 400mg dose and PCR has dropped from 71.8% to 9.3% after three months, I get 5 month results in a week or so. The only side effects I'm having is that its taking slightly longer for my legs to recover from exercise than they used to...so I've been lucky so far!
We've already held a charity cake day at work this month and raised £560 (we like cakes at our work!!!) and I'm also planning on doing the Great North Run in September.
I'm hoping that one or two of you would consider sponsoring me and my colleagues (who've given unrivalled support since my diagnosis) as we go into the final stages of our training ahead of the big off in 7 weeks.
My justgiving page is www.justgiving.com/neildouglass and our group one is www.justgiving.com/2011c2c.
If any of you are in Tyenmouth on Sunday 19th June, keep an eye out for us reaching the finish line! Alternatively, it'll be the start in whitehaven on Friday 17th, starting around 9.30-10.00am.
I'm also arranging a Race Night in Bedlington on June 11th, if any of you are local and would like to attend, please message me or reply to this post and we can arrange tickets (£5 each).
Thanks for taking the time to read this!