A COURAGEOUS woman who beat the odds after being given just six months to live is thanking the charity that saved her life.

Former Widnes artist Joanne Kelly who battled blood cancer is tackling the London Marathon on Sunday, her 33rd birthday.

She was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma when she was only 22.

Initially doctors believed it would be treatable but after three years, at the age of 25, medics feared she would not survive.

Her only hope was a stem cell transplant and after encouraging people to join the stem cell register, she herself became a recipient.

her life was saved by a stranger, a 24-year-old man in Germany.

Jo, formerly of Princess Place, Ditton, said: "I was so very lucky that I had one match out there willing to donate his stem cells and Anthony Nolan was the charity who made it happen.

"I am even luckier that the transplant - whilst the hardest thing I've ever had to go through - worked like a charm.

"I recovered really well over the year that followed and, five years on, I'm still here."

As part of her recovery, Jo developed a passion for cycling.

Jo said: “I was reasonably active before I became ill. While I was having my transplant, I was in isolation in hospital at the same time London Olympics were on and I really got into watching the cycling.

"I had a little pedal machine in my room that I was using but a week after my transplant I was so weak I couldn’t even pedal once on the machine. I told myself that after I got better I would get out there and start cycling.”

After she left hospital Jo, who now lives in Manchester, started cycling with a vintage bike and quickly progressed to track and road bikes and started racing in velodromes.

Since recovering Jo has taken on a number of cycling challenges for charity including 100 mile rides and 24 hour track cycle relays.

Jo has already beaten her target and raised more than £4,630.

Jo says, “For me, this will be a celebration of the life I was never supposed to have, and owe completely to Anthony Nolan.

"I want to raise as much as I possibly can so that they can continue to save lives.

"Whenever the going gets touch I remind myself of the five years of cancer treatment I went through and all the strong people I have met, and sometimes lost, on this journey.

"That should keep anyone going!"

Kirsty Mooney, head of events at Anthony Nolan said, “We are delighted that Jo is fit and well and running in aid of Anthony Nolan; we can’t wait to cheer her on and see her finish the marathon.

“Step by step, mile by mile, #TeamAN will be saving lives.

"The funds raised by Jo will enable us to recruit potential stem cell donors to the Anthony Nolan register – any one of whom could give a second chance of life for someone with blood cancer.”

To donate visit justgiving.com/fundraising/marrowmarathon

For more information about becoming a stem cell donor visit https://www.anthonynolan.org/8-ways-you-could-save-life/donate-your-stem-cells