Three years after donating his bone marrow to a stranger with blood cancer, a Managing Director from Falkirk is now running the marathon so that we can save more lives.
Barrie Henderson from Falkirk is taking on the marathon on 13 April for the second time, running to raise money for us, the official charity for the Virgin Money London Marathon 2014.
Barrie Henderson - above
Barrie, 41, became a lifesaving bone marrow (or stem cell) donor in 2011, after being found to be a match for someone in need of a transplant.
He recalls: "I walked out feeling incredibly proud that I’d helped, yet I also felt really humbled to be so lucky to have been a match for someone and what it would mean for them and their families.
"It really is the gift of life for the recipient, and it was difficult to comprehend how something so simple could have such a massive impact."
More recently, Barrie decided to run the marathon for us after a close family friend was diagnosed with leukaemia.
Barrie says, "My friend’s diagnosis really brought home to everyone exactly how important the work that Anthony Nolan does and how crucial it is for the individual and their families.
"Times like this make the work Anthony Nolan does all the more real for people."
Barrie is now feeling positive about taking on the marathon for the second time.
He says: "I finished the 2013 marathon in at about 5hrs 15mins, not as quick as I had hoped for but suffered with cramps.
"I’m aiming for around 4hrs 30mins this time and nothing’s going to stop me – except maybe my legs!
"What I love about running with Anthony Nolan is the extra support you get which really helps to keep you motivated. And on the day, seeing all the people wearing the same t-shirts gives you a real buzz and sense of purpose – it’s just great.
"Last year I managed to raise just over £5,000 for Anthony Nolan through sponsorship and events, and hoping to beat that this year!
"One of my friends has also signed up and is running for Anthony Nolan, so we have a few events planned to help us raise money and awareness!"
Mary Campbell, our Head of Events, said,
"Barrie has already done an incredibly selfless thing by donating his stem cells, so we are delighted that he’s continuing to support our work by running the marathon with us this year.
"Mile by mile, our team will be running to save lives.
"The funds they raise will enable us to recruit 10,000 potential bone marrow donors to the Anthony Nolan register – for someone with blood cancer, that’s 10,000 more chances of a cure."
You can sponsor Barrie at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Barrie