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Shortly after his 52nd birthday in March 2013, my Dad, Paddy Toal was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML). He immediately started his treatment in Belfast City Hospital and after an initial round of chemotherapy achieved remission. After this he went through two further rounds of chemotherapy and was fortunate enough to have a sibling match for stem cell transplantation. During this time he battled nausea, vomiting, extreme fatigue, infections, hair loss, loss of appetite, rashes and more, all with the hope to put this all behind him. He was discharged following 22 weeks in hospital and 8 months of treatment in November.

 8 days after discharge the leukaemia was back. 

One week later, in the early hours of 28th November 2013, he died.

Leukaemia is the 12th most common cancer in the UK, 201 people were diagnosed in Northern Ireland in 2010. It is seen in all ages, very few risk factors are known and most patients have none of them. In the period 1971-75, the 5 year survival of the leukaemias was only 12%, in forty years it has increased nearly four-fold to 44%, but there is still so much further to go.

Leukaemia & Lymphoma NI is the only charity in Northern Ireland dedicated to fighting these diseases. Research is the only way to stop the devastation we feel in our family happening to hundreds more each year in Northern Ireland. My Dad participated in the AML-17 clinical trial during his treatment and we take comfort knowing that he has helped further research to allow others to beat this disease.

It is my pleasure to run the Belfast Marathon this May Day in memory of my Dad. Anything you can spare to donate to this very worthy cause will be greatly appreciated and can make such a difference to the lives of those who continue to battle against Leukaemia and Lymphoma and their families.

Thank you.