Property management worker Rebecca Brisley, known to friends as Becca, is getting ready to tackle the 26.2 mile London Marathon to raise money in memory of a friend who lost her battle against cancer in 2016.
Natalie Dixon (pictured below), from Birchington, was just 28-years-old when she died.
Her life was extended when the Anthony Nolan charity used its register to match her with a donation of blood stem cells.
In thanks Becca,who lives in Broadstairs and works in Margate, is planning to raise at least £3,500 for the charity with her marathon run.
She said: “Without this charity Natalie’s loved ones wouldn’t have had those extra days before she passed. I want to raise some money to help them continue to do the amazing things they are doing.”
Every day, Anthony Nolan saves the lives of people with a blood cancer or blood disorder. They do this by matching individuals willing to donate their stem cells or bone marrow, to people who desperately need a lifesaving transplant.
They also carry out cutting edge scientific research, fund specialist post-transplant nurses and support patients and their families through the transplant process and beyond.
Becca is one of a group which has been raising money for the charity in Natalie’s memory since her passing. So far they have brought in.£17,000 and are aiming for £28,000 to make £1000 for every year she had been alive.
Becca, who works for Manns Lettings, has taken part in half marathons, 10ks, park runs in Pegwell, the 21 mile Betteshanger Challenge and the Deal Half Marathon, to name just a few, raising funds for the charity in all of them.
She has also hosted quizzes and bucket collections to raise extra funds.
She hopes to complete the London Marathon on April 22 in five hours.
Key statistics
- Every 14 minutes, someone is diagnosed with blood cancer.
- Over 2,000 people in the UK in need of a bone marrow or stem cell transplant every year.
- 75% of UK patients won’t find a matching donor in their families. So they turn to the Anthony Nolan to find them an unrelated donor.
- The charity give a change of life to three people every day.
- Every day, at least 5 people start their search for a matching unrelated stem cell donor.
- Anthony Nolan helped over 1,300 people in 2016-17.
- Find more about the charity here