Bike ride challenge aids blood cancer charity

Alexandra Heelis’ friends and family are cycling from Rotherham Hospital to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, making sure to pass through places spelling out ANTHONY NOLAN from tomorrow until (2) Monday (4).

They decided to hold the event to raise awareness of the work that Anthony Nolan do —matching individuals willing to donate their blood stem cells or bone marrow to people with blood disorders — as a thank you for the care provided to Alexandra.

The 28-year-old was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia in 2004 and has received stem cell transplant organised by Anthony Nolan in 2005 in Birmingham.  

Since then she has been offered ongoing treatment to combat Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD), a complication of her second stem cell transplant, at a specialist centre in Rotherham Hospital.

Alexandra, from Coventry, said: “Anthony Nolan have saved my life twice and my friends, family and I would love to be able to help support them and raise awareness of the amazing and life-saving work they do.  

“My friends came up with the brilliant idea to cycle between hospitals where I have received treatment with the added twist of passing through places spelling out ANTHONY NOLAN.

“My dad is a keen cyclist and so of course wanted to get involved plus everyone is thankful there will be at least one person who knows what they are doing.”

Alexandra, once a keen cyclist herself, will not be able to complete the ride due to the effects of her condition.

And her friend Sarah Mercer, who came up with the idea for the ride, recently slipped a disc in her back — counting her out.

Alexandra said: “I will be in the support car with my best friend Sarah, dishing out flapjacks and shouting encouragement.”

Anyone wanting to support the fund-raising ride can do so via the internet at www.justgiving.com/Rollinfornolan/.