Jacob Riley and his girlfriend Lydia Heaton have raised more than £1,500 for our charity after completing a 10k sponsored run following a blood cancer diagnosis for Jacob’s sister.
Megan Porter, 27, was working as a primary school teacher in South Korea when she became ill with sore tonsils. While she was being examined doctors discovered swollen lymph nodes, a rash and bruising.
Doctors then carried out a blood test that showed she was suffering from Leukaemia.
Jacob and Lydia were keen to do something to try to help and started training for the Aintree 10k run, seeking sponsorship from friends, family and workmates. They are hopeful that as more money comes in, via their Just Giving pages, the total raised for the blood cancer charity will increase further.
The popular Aintree 10k was run on Sunday December 15 at the famous Liverpool racecourse, home of the Grand National steeplechase.
Jacob said: “We heard about LMRUK through the run organisers and wanted to do something on behalf of Megan. She was diagnosed in late October. She was working as an English teacher in a primary school at the time – she had a fall and went to hospital and that’s when the Leukaemia was diagnosed.”
He said his sister was advised to return to the UK where she has now undergone two rounds of chemotherapy at the Manchester Royal Infirmary and is doing well. Jacob said Megan’s family hope she will be home in time for Christmas or early in the New Year.
Jacob and Lydia are both gym goers but neither were keen runners. “I didn’t even like running,” Jacob admitted. But after several weeks of training the pair completed the 10k run in little over an hour and have pledged to continue running for fitness.
Jacob, from Wigan, who works part time in the tea rooms at the National Trust’s Rufford Old Hall in Lancashire, said workmates had generously supported his fund-raising efforts.
Lydia, a dance teacher with BabyBallet, who lives in Up Holland, near Wigan, has also been supported by generous sponsors.
Dr Joanna Tilley, Operations Director at LMRUK said: “We are so grateful to Jacob and Lydia for their fantastic fundraising efforts.
“It is often when a family member is diagnosed with a blood cancer that fundraisers step up to help LMRUK and we know that the money they collect will help us in our work towards finding treatments and ultimately a cure for these diseases.”
*To support Jacob and Lydia’s fund-raising find them on Just Giving https://www.justgiving.com/page/jacob-riley-1729435400238
