A man from West Bridgford will be running from John O’Groats to Land’s End to raise money for two charities.
Michael Ford will run 936 miles via the Three Peaks in May to show his support for the mental health charity The Hike with Mike Foundation, and Lymphoma Action, the only charity in the UK dedicated to lymphoma. Both are causes close to his heart, with Michael’s friend setting up The Hike with Mike Foundation after losing two close friends to suicide during the COVID-19 lockdown, and Michael’s mum receiving support from Lymphoma Action following her diagnosis of lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, in 2020.
Michael’s fundraising page can be found at https://www.justgiving.com/page/mfjogle
“My mum was actually diagnosed with two types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma” says Michael, 25. “Thankfully, she is now in remission from diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, but she is currently on active monitoring for follicular lymphoma. Lymphoma Action really helped my mum get through her chemotherapy and radiotherapy so I want to give back as much as I can.”
“Many people start fundraising or doing crazy challenges in memory of a loved one, or even if they themselves are faced with a terminal diagnosis but I want to complete this extremely difficult challenge while my loved ones are still here, to celebrate the achievement with them” he continues. “That’s if I can complete it though! I am planning to finish the challenge in under three weeks, which means I will have to run 80km (50 miles) a day. It will be tough challenging myself, feeling broken and seeing if I can get through it – but it will certainly be worth it when I cross the finish line. That’s what I am looking forward to most.”
“Just planning the route and thinking about how I would feel coming into Land’s End made me emotional” he adds. “Discovering parts of the country I haven’t been to, the summit of each peak and family and friends joining me on certain days – I know it’s going to be a very emotional journey and there is so much to look forward to.”
Laura Thompson-Watts, Challenge Events Fundraiser at Lymphoma Action said: “We are so grateful to Michael for his support and wish him the best of luck ahead of his epic challenge. We first met Michael when he was our first Lymphoma Action team member to cross the London Marathon finish line last year and he barely broke a sweat! If anyone can complete this challenge, he can!”
She added: “Every 26 minutes one of us is diagnosed with lymphoma. Thanks to amazing people like Michael, we can continue to provide vital information and support to make sure no one has to face lymphoma alone.”
Lymphoma Action is inviting everyone to join #TeamLymphoma in 2024 for a fundraising challenge to support their work in providing people with the information and support they need during their lymphoma diagnosis, treatment and beyond. The Charity has many challenges to get involved in, with something for all ages and abilities.
Please visit www.lymphoma-action.org.uk/take-challenge for further details on how to raise funds and awareness about the UK’s fifth most common cancer.
Photo: Michael and parents at London Marathon reception