Last year, following his mother's diagnosis with MDS, Owain raised funds for MDS UK by running the Cabbage Patch 10 Mile Race.
This year he did it again big time by running at the London Marathon! Owain was our only runner representing the 2,500 newly diagnosed MDS patients per year in the UK.
"I've been fortunate (or should that be unfortunate?) enough to win a ballot entry for this year's London Marathon. Many people very generously donated to my cause when I ran the Cabbage Patch 10 Mile Race back in October 2018, and I'd like to take this opportunity to once again raise awareness of the excellent work of my chosen charity, MDS UK.
A little over a year ago, my Mam was diagnosed with MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome), a rare form of blood cancer that can be kept under control by certain treatments but for which new approaches are being, and need to be, developed.
MDS UK provides invaluable information for patients, their families and the wider public. Unlike many larger charities, it isn't allocated any entry places for the London Marathon and so misses out on a source of much-needed funds. I would therefore be delighted with, and very grateful for, any donations to this extremely worthwhile and hard-working charity."
You can also make a significant difference to our small charity. MDS UK does not get London Marathon places – and relies on runners with ballot places. Please enter the ballot for next year and consider running for MDS UK.
All the money we get goes to assist patients and families with information, support and advice.
An hour on the helpline to newly diagnosed patients makes such a difference in most situations.
Our information meetings are the next step – to help patients cope with making more sense of the medical journey they are on.
Our local meetings help with the ongoing emotional support that is often needed.
