Raise vital funds for 3-year-old's leukaemia treatment

I know, I know. I’ve said countless times that I had no intention of ever running another marathon.

And I meant it.

But sometimes things happen that change everything.

When my friend Jakub's young son was diagnosed with B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, a fast-growing and aggressive type of blood cancer that occurs when the bone marrow produces too many abnormal white blood cells, he thought that the costs would be covered by his health insurance. Despite having lived and worked in the UK for 10 years, Jakub's status as an EU national no longer permanently resident here meant that his son was not eligible for NHS treatment.

The insurance was initially adequate, but the relentlessness of the disease meant that more and different treatments were required and the cover eventually ran out.

Achieving the correct treatment for his son’s illness has consumed Jakub, taking all of his time, not to mention money that he simply does not have. However, no parent can stand by and watch a loved child suffer, and Jakub borrowed funds to ensure his son’s survival.

Working all hours to pay off those debts is one thing, but the sad reality is that this is an unforgiving disease and the costs are ongoing. The next phase of treatment has to be paid for and there isn’t enough money to pay for it, despite the generosity of many people who have put their hands in their pocket for the therapy so far.

So, like I said, things change. That’s why I’m running the Chasing Numbers Christmas Cracker on 20th December, having had no thought of ever doing a marathon again.

I was 49 the last time and I’m 63 now. It will be a challenge, but an old geezer’s creaky knees are nothing compared to a small child’s entire future.

Any help you can give will be hugely appreciated.

Charlie