Tom Nicholls GOSH London Marathon
Tom Nicholls
My Story
I am running the London Marathon on behalf of GOSH because they saved my brother’s life. My younger brother had Leukemia when he was about 2 years old and if it wasn’t for GOSH, he would not be here today.
Leukemia is a group of blood cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and result in high numbers of abnormal blood cells. There are about 9900 new cases in the UK each year, 27 a day! Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy is used to destroy the cancerous cells, however this destroys the persons immune system, so a simple cold virus could kill them. The patient must stay in a controlled environment so that no viruses/bugs/diseases can reach them. Doctors and nurses must wear special clothing to protect against spreading anything to the patient. Visiting families also must do the same. Normally a bone marrow donor is used to replace the patients bone marrow and the healthy bone marrow allows for a heathy immune system once again. Finding a bone marrow donor can be difficult, family members can be the closest match, but not always.
When my brother was diagnosed with Leukemia, he was rushed to GOSH where the doctors and nurses took great care of him, they used a mixture of chemotherapy and radiotherapy to kill off the cancerous cells. During this time, he stayed in the hospital in a sealed room that only certain doctors, nurses, and family members were allowed in. I remember visiting and seeing my brother on the other side of the room’s window and talking through an intercom. GOSH then found that my bone morrow could be used. Both my brother and I underwent an operation where my healthy bone marrow was transplanted into my brothers’ bones, where they started to grow, creating a new healthy, cancer-free immune system. GOSH not only took care of my brother during that time, but for years afterwards they supported him and our family with support groups and meet-ups to help families return to normal life, not to mention the ongoing medicine, injections and radiation exposure medication.
Without GOSH, I would not have a younger brother today, my sister would not have an older brother and my parents would not have a younger son. GOSH doesn’t just save children’s lives, they save families lives.
I am raising over £2000 so that other families, other brothers, sisters, mums & dads can be given a chance to have a brother like I have.
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Target
£2,000
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Raised so far
£2,416
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Number of donors
62
My Story
I am running the London Marathon on behalf of GOSH because they saved my brother’s life. My younger brother had Leukemia when he was about 2 years old and if it wasn’t for GOSH, he would not be here today.
Leukemia is a group of blood cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and result in high numbers of abnormal blood cells. There are about 9900 new cases in the UK each year, 27 a day! Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy is used to destroy the cancerous cells, however this destroys the persons immune system, so a simple cold virus could kill them. The patient must stay in a controlled environment so that no viruses/bugs/diseases can reach them. Doctors and nurses must wear special clothing to protect against spreading anything to the patient. Visiting families also must do the same. Normally a bone marrow donor is used to replace the patients bone marrow and the healthy bone marrow allows for a heathy immune system once again. Finding a bone marrow donor can be difficult, family members can be the closest match, but not always.
When my brother was diagnosed with Leukemia, he was rushed to GOSH where the doctors and nurses took great care of him, they used a mixture of chemotherapy and radiotherapy to kill off the cancerous cells. During this time, he stayed in the hospital in a sealed room that only certain doctors, nurses, and family members were allowed in. I remember visiting and seeing my brother on the other side of the room’s window and talking through an intercom. GOSH then found that my bone morrow could be used. Both my brother and I underwent an operation where my healthy bone marrow was transplanted into my brothers’ bones, where they started to grow, creating a new healthy, cancer-free immune system. GOSH not only took care of my brother during that time, but for years afterwards they supported him and our family with support groups and meet-ups to help families return to normal life, not to mention the ongoing medicine, injections and radiation exposure medication.
Without GOSH, I would not have a younger brother today, my sister would not have an older brother and my parents would not have a younger son. GOSH doesn’t just save children’s lives, they save families lives.
I am raising over £2000 so that other families, other brothers, sisters, mums & dads can be given a chance to have a brother like I have.
