Leukaemia survivor Jo Hemesley always said she’d never run a marathon. But then after Anthony Nolan - the charity that saved her life – was voted in as the London Marathon’s official charity for 2014, she changed her mind…
Sales manager Jo Hemesley, 43, from London was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia in September 2003. “It was absolutely horrifying, I was completely shell shocked – I knew nothing about leukaemia at all,” she remembers.
Jo was stabilised for four years with medication before her bone marrow began to deteriorate in August 2007. None of Jo’s siblings were found to be a match, and searches for an unrelated donor were unsuccessful.
Jo’s medical team started to talk about a cord blood transplant – where a new mum donates the blood from her umbilical cord, which is rich in life-saving stem cells.
"They gave me the opportunity to live again"
Jo received a cord blood transplant in February 2008. “I didn’t even know if I’d make it to my next birthday,” Jo remembers.
“Then somebody saved my life, they gave me the opportunity to live again. If I met the mother who gave her cord blood I would probably be crying, I don’t think I’d be able to put into words my deep heartfelt thanks.”
Last year, Jo was asked if she would share her story with staff at Virgin Money Giving, at Anthony Nolan’s pitch to become the Official Charity of the Virgin Money London Marathon in 2014.
“I’d always thought I could never run a marathon, but at the pitch, I found myself saying in front of them all, ‘If Anthony Nolan win it, then I’ll definitely run it’! So when Anthony Nolan won their bid and became the official charity, I was thrilled and I wanted to keep my half of the bargain.”
“I’ve benefited hugely from Anthony Nolan’s work – I am utterly grateful to them for giving me my life back. To be part of their team means the world to me. It is an opportunity to say thank you for everything I’ve had, and a way of expressing my fervent wish that anyone else in my shoes will find a donor.”
Jo is now training hard, and feeling excited about marathon day. “Training’s going really well and I can’t wait for the day. I think it’ll be a really emotional experience as my family will all be there on the day – but I can’t cry as I’m worried it will use up too much moisture, and I need to stay hydrated!”
How you can help
To sponsor Jo, visit her Virgin Money Giving page here.
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