A runner is preparing to tackle the world’s most iconic race in support of the team at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital who supported her friend after a cancer diagnosis.
Kelly Thurgood, from Pakefield in Suffolk, will join up to 40,000 others on the starting line of the London Marathon taking place on Sunday 28th April.
It’s the second year, Kelly has taken part in the race, and after being lucky enough to get a place in the ballot for this year, she decided to raise money for Mulbarton ward where Danny Alison was treated.
She said: “When we found out that Danny had been diagnosed with Acute Lymphblastic Leukaemia (ALL) I knew I wanted to support him and the family in some way.
Kelly and Danny Alison
“They were determined that any funds raised should go to Mulbarton ward where Danny was treated.”
The 32-year-old will be cheered along on the day by son, Elliott, five, and 11-year-old daughter Darcey, who is Kelly’s biggest supporter and often joins in on the training runs.
Danny’s wife, also called Kelly, said her husband’s diagnosis one year ago was a huge shock and came totally out of the blue.
She said: “He had chest infections and had been suffering from back pain but had just put it down to work.
“One Friday the pain was so bad he went to the N&N and on the Saturday the doctors diagnosed ALL.” Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia is a type of cancer that affects the white blood cells.
Kelly Alison from Carlton Colville in Suffolk, who has two daughters Sophia, 14, and Jasmin, 11, said Danny underwent chemotherapy before recently having a stem cell transplant.
She said: “It has been a tough year but hopefully Danny has now turned a corner and things will get better.
“As soon as Kelly said she wanted to raise money for us, we were determined that it should go to the team who treated us so well, including [Consultant Haematologists] Angela Collins and Matthew Lawes and nurse Sarah Hicks.
“The whole team was fantastic and I don’t know how we would have coped without them – they really got us through.”
You can support Kelly here http://www.justgiving.com/Kelly-Thurgood
