COLLEAGUES from a Cuddington finance company have smashed their planned 874-mile lockdown lifesavers challenge for blood cancer charity DKMS.
 

The six co-workers from Oakmere Wealth Management not only completed their virtual Land’s End to John O’ Groats charity challenge but went several miles further clocking up more than £2,000 for their efforts. 

It wasn’t enough for managing director, Carla Brown and her five teammates Louise Gilbody, Jackie Phillips, Jacky Roberts, Rachel Whittaker, and Penny Williams to run, cycle and walk the classic route that spans the UK.

They added extra distance to their feat and racked up an impressive 1,046.1 miles –roughly the same distance between Manchester and Marseille – and all registered as donors on the UK blood stem cell register.

Carla first heard of DKMS after her friend and client Andy Clague died from Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2017, following a two-year fight with the disease. 

Blood cancer reared its head again when operations manager Louise Gilbody’s father-in-law Martin became ill with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

These personal stories inspired the team to take on a fundraising challenge to help the charity that had supported those close to them.

Carla said: “The Covid-19 lockdown was challenging for us, but even more difficult for the 30,000 people diagnosed with blood cancer each year in the UK. 

“The six of us agreed to split the 874 miles between the two furthest extremities in Great Britain, with a goal to urge people to register with DKMS and donate urgent funds to them. It was hard work, but I’m so thrilled that we kept on going and we raised over £2,080.” 

Louise Gilbody added: “I was so pleased to be a part of this amazing challenge. It makes me proud that I’ve done something to shine a light on the disease my father-in-law is battling, not to mention thousands of others. However, now we need people to act now by ordering a home swab kit from DKMS. 

“You could be the difference. You could be someone’s genetic twin. So many blood cancer patients are in need of a second chance of life, so get in touch with DKMS today. You could be a lifesaver.”   

If you are aged between 17 and 55 and in good general health, you can register for a home swab at dkms.org.uk/en/OWM. You can also support Oakmere Wealth Management’s fundraising page at justgiving.com/fundraising/oakmerewm