MORE than 30 haematology staff from the local health trust are running the Great Birmingham Run on Sunday, October 16 for blood cancer charity Cure Leukaemia.
Doctors, former patients, lab technicians, and nurses from Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust – which runs the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch; Kidderminster Hospital and Treatment Centre and Worcestershire Royal Hospital – are all taking part in the 13.1 mile half marathon through the Second City.
Consultant Dr Nick Pemberton and specialist research nurse Kate Arthur have been instrumental in assembling ‘Team Haem’ and Kate hopes they can raise significant funds for the charity that fund her position.
“Thanks to Cure Leukaemia we can open clinical trials in Worcestershire that otherwise could not have been run here,” she said.
“This gives our patients the opportunity to take part in internationally significant research, providing answers to important questions about how to treat blood cancers.
“I am thrilled that so many of my colleagues will be running alongside me in October to raise funds for this fantastic charity.”
Three former blood cancer patients are running in ‘Team Haem’ including 20-year-old Brooke Evans from Redditch. Three years ago Brooke was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and thanks to funds raised for Cure Leukaemia she is now in remission and training to become a nurse at Worcester University.
She said: “Without Cure Leukaemia’s funding I might not be here now and I am really excited to be taking part in the Great Birmingham Run with everyone in ‘Team Haem.’ I am really enjoying training to become a nurse and I can’t wait to be able to help people who are in the same position I was a few years ago.”
To make a donation to ‘Team Haem’ go to www.justgiving.com/Teamhaem2016. Cure Leukaemia offer free entry into the Great Birmingham Run.
To sign up and run for the charity email: [email protected].
