A decade after finishing treatment for blood cancer, a 26-year-old is taking on her first half-marathon to raise money for patients and families navigating the same journey.
Jersey-born Fleur Dodd is fundraising for Blood Cancer UK by running the London Landmarks Half Marathon on Sunday 12 April.
Fleur’s motivation comes from her own experience.
In October 2014, at just 15 years old, she was diagnosed with Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH), a rare form of blood cancer.
At a time when most teenagers were focused on exams and prom, Fleur found herself balancing GCSE studies with chemotherapy, hospital appointments, and the physical and emotional toll of treatment.
“That period of my life was incredibly uncertain, studying for my GCSEs alongside chemotherapy appointments and treatment side effects, while still trying to be a normal teenager,” the former Jersey College for Girls student said.
Now, more than a decade after completing treatment, Fleur reflected on how far she has come.
“Since then, I’ve been very lucky to live a full and fun life: studying Biomedical Science, travelling through South-East Asia, doing a ski season in France, completing a yoga teacher training in Bali, and meeting so many amazing people along the way,” she said.
“It’s now been ten years since I finished treatment, and running a half-marathon feels like a positive and meaningful way to mark how far I’ve come.”
Fleur is hoping to raise £1,000 for Blood Cancer UK, which provides not only funding for research but also crucial support for patients and families navigating the uncertainty of diagnosis – something she remembers all too well.
“Being able to give back to a charity that supports people through that in-between, unknown space feels especially important to me,” she said.
DONATE…
You can sponsor Fleur online via her JustGiving page.
