Crewe Vagrants HC Walk 40 Miles To Raise Awareness Of Blood Cancer

A team of Crewe Vagrants hockey players are taking on a 40 mile walk to raise awareness of Blood Cancer after one of their teammates was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) for the second time.

On the Saturday 7 August a group of 17 walkers from will set off from The Christie Hospital in Manchester and take on a trek across Cheshire back to their club house, in Crewe. The team are raising money for Blood Cancer UK and so far, have raised an impressive £1500.

In January 2021, Crewe Vagrants Hockey player, Steph Thompson, received the devastating news that her Acute Myeloid Leukaemia had returned. Steph, who went into remission after first being diagnosed with AML in June 2018, required a Stem Cell transplant and a worldwide search began to find one. With only 2% of the world’s population registered as donors, there was a great possibility that one wouldn’t be found.

“People are just not aware of it. People give blood all the time, but many don’t realise you can also donate stem cells on be on the register,” she said. 

In March 2021, Steph received the call saying a suitable donor had been found.  After various tests were carried out, the transplant was able to go ahead. Steph has spent a few months receiving treatment in hospital and is now recovering at home.

Crewe Vagrants HC has chosen charity, Blood Cancer UK (formally Bloodwise), has invested over £500million in blood cancer research since 1960, transforming treatments and saving lives. Right now, they are funding 360 researchers across the UK in search of the next breakthrough.

One of the Crewe Vagrants team members stated, ‘We wanted to do something to support our friend and teammate and support the journey she has been through. Due to Covid, it means we haven’t been able to see her. We came up with this challenge and it is no small feat, especially seeing as it's all going to be walking on tarmac footpaths, which takes a toll on your body.’

Blood Cancer UK is a charity close to the heart of Crewe Vagrants members who have previously completed a 12-hour hockey game to raise money for the charity.

If you are interested in becoming a donor, German-based charity DKMS is the largest register of donors, and anyone aged 17 to 55 can register to increase the number of potential matches. www.dkms.org.uk/

The Anthony Nolan Trust also holds a register of donors for people aged 16 to 30. www.anthonynolan.org/

If you would like to find out more about our challenge or sponsor us, please visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/stephsstriders

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