Teenager Leo Palmer, who rode his bicycle nearly 300 miles from Lancaster to London to raise almost £4,000 for LMRUK has been named our Individual Fundraiser of the Year!
The caring sports fan undertook the bicycling marathon in support of his grandmother, Sandra Vallente, who was diagnosed with incurable Multiple Myeloma in October 2024 and was living with Leo and his family at their home near Morecombe while undergoing treatment.
Leo, now 16, set off from Lancaster Castle a week after finishing his GCSE examinations and arrived at Big Ben in central London just five days later on June 26 – battling some of the highest temperatures during one of the warmest British summers for decades.
Supported by his Dad, Jamie, who followed in a back-up car, Leo started out with the aim of raising £500 but quickly smashed through that target with donations pouring in through a Just Giving charity donations page.
His mother, Christina and friends made the trip to London to welcome him at the end of the marathon with a special poster reading: “You did it! Well done Leo.” 
Once all the money had been collected Leo made a final total of £3,870, which will go towards supporting research into treatment and ultimately a cure for blood cancers, including Multiple Myeloma.
Leo, who has started a plumbing and heating apprenticeship since completing his fundraising cycle ride, admitted the near 60 miles from Leicester to Milton Keynes were the most challenging of the whole route, in large part because of the heat.
Christina said Leo was delighted to have been recognised as our Individual Fundraiser of the Year. “He’s been to work today and told his boss – he is really pleased and proud,” she said.
Leo’s grandmother, Sandra, who was the inspiration for his fundraising efforts, has responded well to treatment for Multiple Myeloma. “She is on treatment just once a month now. When she was first diagnosed it was every week,” Christina said.
Dr Joanna Tilley, LMRUK’s Operations Director, said: “As a charity we rely so much on the great support from our fundraisers and Leo efforts were magnificent. He is a worthy winner of our Individual Fundraiser of the Year award. It is really heartening to see young people stepping up like this to help others.”
