A Cardiff runner whose training partner was diagnosed with a form of blood cancer earlier this year has raised more than £650 for LMRUK by running the city’s Half Marathon.
Quantity surveyor Gareth Harris, 62, completed the Cardiff Half Marathon in just two hours and 18 minutes on Sunday 5 October, raising vital funds for our charity in support of his friend Clason Philips who is receiving treatment for Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML).
Earlier this year, the pair had been planning to train together for the Belvoir Castle Tough Mudder – a 10-mile obstacle course – when a routine medical examination revealed Clason’s diagnosis.
Since then, Clason, 61, has undergone chemotherapy and is now awaiting a stem cell transplant to combat the illness.
“Clason is one of the most vibrant, fun people you can imagine,” Gareth said. “He’ll never say when things are getting hard, but I wanted to do something to support him.”
Gareth was cheered on throughout the race by his wife, Laura, daughters Stephanie and Lydia, and five month old granddaughter, Celyn. A particularly memorable moment came at the 6-kilometer mark, where Clason and his wife Chany surprised Gareth from the sidelines.
“I can’t even describe how good that felt, it was a massive boost” Gareth said.
Funds raised will help us continue to fund specialist research into the causes, treatment and prevention of blood cancers, as well as support the charity’s cord blood banking service for families affected by these conditions.
Gareth said: “It’s been great running for LMRUK, it’s meant I can feel useful for my friend, raising money for a charity that I know will benefit people with his condition”.
Our Operations Director, Joanna Tilley said: “It’s easy to feel helpless when a loved one receives a blood cancer diagnosis.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Gareth for taking on this challenge in support of Clason and everyone affected by these conditions.”
To find out more about how we use funds to advance research into blood cancers, visit https://lmruk.org/research/.
