COLLEAGUES from a Cuddington finance company are taking action to delete blood cancer and challenging others to become lockdown lifesavers.

The team at Oakmere Wealth Management is completing a virtual trip from Lands End to John O’ Groats this month in support of DKMS, the international bone marrow donor centre, and St James's Place Charitable Foundation.

Throughout June, Carla Brown, Penny Williams, Louise Gilbody, Jacky Roberts, Rachel Whittaker and Jackie Phillips will run, cycle or walk a combined total of 874 miles and each register as a donor on the UK blood stem cell register.

The team members all have personal stories as to why these two charities are close to their hearts, having lost family, friends and clients to blood cancer.

Founder and managing director Carla met Louise Clague in 2007 who became a client with her late husband, Andy in 2014. A short time later Andy was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and sadly died in 2017.

Louise and Andy’s story and involvement with DKMS touched everyone in the team, including operations manager Louise Gilbody whose father in law is currently battling blood cancer.

After one of their regular lockdown online catch-ups, the team decided to do something to raise awareness about the charity and the work it provides.

As well as raising money for DKMS, which will be match-funded by St James's Place Charitable Foundation, the team wants to encourage others to become blood stem cell donors.   

Louise explained: “This isn't just about raising money for the charities, it’s also about raising awareness and trying to encourage more people to become lockdown lifesavers and sofa swabbers and registering to become a donor on the UK blood stem cell register.

“Every 20 minutes, someone is diagnosed with blood cancer. This diagnosis is devastating, and during the coronavirus outbreak, it is even more crucial that we do all we can to offer hope to people with blood cancer and blood disorders.

“They have seen the numbers of people joining the blood stem cell register decline dramatically in recent times, and now, more than ever before, they need people to sign up.

“For many, a blood stem cell donation is their best chance of recovery and only 30 per cent of people find a match within their family. This means the remainder will need to find an anonymous blood stem cell donor.”

The team will complete its challenge together on June 30 at 2pm with a socially distanced five-mile walk around Delamere Forest.

To support the fundraising challenge visit justgiving.com/fundraising/oakmerewm

To become a stem cell donor, dkms.org.uk/en/OWM