My Surrey 3 Peaks Challenge - Saturday 15th August 2026

My wonderful husband Sam was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia last June after an unrelated visit to A&E. His blood at that point was 85% leukaemic. Intense treatment started straight away due to the aggressiveness of his AML. Sam had 3 rounds of chemotherapy lasting up to 10 days at a time and stays in hospital of up to 6 weeks only being allowed home for two weeks inbetween treatment rounds. He battled two bouts of sepsis and e-coli along with countless platelet and blood transfusions. We were told quite early on that Sam would need a stem cell transplant due to his AML being 'high risk'. Luckily his only brother Alex was a complete match. Preparation for the transplant meant Sam had to go through more chemotherapy and total body irradiation. Sam received his brothers stem cells at the end of November last year. Recovery from the transplant has had its challenges both physically and mentally but 6 months later Sam and I are starting to enjoy life again.

Last September my sister in law Chloe (Alexs wife) and I raised £3.5k for Anthony Nolan as we walked the entirety of the Basingstoke Canal (53km). This year we are taking on a tougher challenge - The Surrey 3 Peaks, on Saturday 15th August 2026, which is a circular loop taking in the 3 highest points in Surrey accumulating to a total ascent of 1060m and a distance of 37km. We would love to raise even more than we did last year to help fund vital research for better and life saving treatments for leukaemia patients. This is going to be a tough trek but it wont be anywhere near as hard as the challenges that Sam has had to face.

Sam - we love you and we are so proud of you!