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26 Apr 2015

Fabulous third Marathon runner!

When is this event:

Date: 26/04/2015

Organizer

MDS UK

Venue

London Marathon
London, SE10 8QY United Kingdom + Google Map

POST MARATHON UPDATE:

We are so proud of Georgina, who’s our youngest and only female Marathon Runner this year! This is her first marathon ever and she did it in 5 hours and 7 minutes – You go girl!

Georgina was inspired to enter the marathon and do something she doesn’t like, by her father – Russell Cook, who run 3 marathons in 2014 for 3 transplants he had had as well as a series of other runs, marathons and half-marathons. The Cooks seem truly unstoppable!

 

Georgina with her medal

Georgina with her medal

Georgina3

Georgina with her boyfriend, also running London Marathon

 

CooksandSophie

Georgina with her supportive brother, parents and Sophie

Kevin, Romit, Georgina

Georgina with fellow MDS UK runners Kevin and Romit

 

RCook-finish1web

MDS UK has a third Virgin London Marathon runner!!!

We are delighted to announce that the amazing daughter of the amazing Russell Cook, Georgina, is also entering the VLM 2015.
Photo left shows Georgina on right, Russell in middle and Mum Susan on left – at the VLM 2014.

As a small charity for whom it is near impossible to obtain marathon charity places, we are so immensely grateful to every lucky ballot runner for using their place to run for us.

Here is what Georgina says on her fundraising page – there is no better introduction:

My page: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GeeLDNMarathonMDSUK

“There is 1 reason for me doing this marathon, and it sure isn’t out of a love of running. The reason is because I have been inspired. Everyone needs a bit of inspiration once in a while, and I found mine in a person very close to my heart.
My dad is my inspiration. And here is his story and why I have chosen to run for this little known charity, MDS UK.
In June 2009, my dad got ill. Really ill. He was initially rushed into hospital and diagnosed with Aplastic Anaemia, and so begun our family’s journey through hell. This diagnosis was soon changed to Myelodisplastic Syndrome (MDS) as his conditioned worsened and his reliance on weekly blood and platelet transfusions increased. The disease, ultimately, can only be cured by a bone marrow transplant (BMT). My dad was lucky enough to find a match, though so so many others with this rare and debilitating illness are not so fortunate. The first and second BMTs were unsuccessful. He spent 7 months straight in Kings College Hospital and fought off countless infections including some instances culminating in a couple of stays in Intensive Care. Through fungal pneumonia, renal failure and septicaemia, he amazingly came out the other end ready to face the next BMT. This time the donor was not anonymous, it was my little brother, Luke (only 15 years old at the time). This transplant was slightly different in that Luke was only a half match, but we were all warned that this was dad’s last chance. It seems that three times really is the charm, because it worked. 
So, after several hundred blood and platelet transfusions, life threatening complications, 3 bone marrow transplants, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and the care and attention of the simply outstanding staff at both Wexham Park and King’s College Hospitals, my dad has now raised over £12,000 for a range of charities linked to his illness, as well as having run 4 marathons (3 of which were consequetively in less than 3 months) 3 half marathons, a 10mile race and a 10mile Spartan team assault course over the last 3 years.
He is always campaigning and has done some very successful curry nights, as well as having an upcoming comedy night and auction to raise awareness for MDS, and to fundraise for this little charity that has had such a big impact on the people it helps.
MDS UK supports patients and families in the treatment and care of MDS sufferers. MDS is a one in a million diagnosis with some 250 new patients each year in the UK. It is not a trivial disease, it is life threatening – a rare ‘blood cancer’.

GeecookGeorgina CookIf you can’t donate money, please consider donating something that costs you nothing but time. Register to become a bone marrow and blood donor. You could save lives like that of my dad’s and become someone else’s inspiration.
I really appreciate all your support and thank you so much for any donations. Don’t forget to Gift Aid it!”
Gee x 🙂
And here is a clip of Russell after VLM 2014.
Do look for all our Russell Cook stories on our website – there are plently!
Russell is so helpful – we made him a trustee!!!  More news on this soon.
Many many thanks to all the Cook family – for all their help and support to our work.
Please share on Facebook and Twitter:
@MDS_UK
@HelpforMDS   (this is Russell’s fantastic twitter account – supporting MDS work)

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