West Sussex Teacher Running the London Marathon in Memory of her Brother-in-Law Who Died of Leukaemia

32 runners from all over the country will take on the challenge on Sunday (27 April) to raise money for Leukaemia UK, helping its mission to fund kinder and more effective treatments to stop leukaemia from devastating lives.  

This year. Leukaemia UK’s runners include a West Sussex language teacher and award-winning writer who is running in memory of her brother-in-law.  

Leukaemia UK hopes its supporters’ dedicated efforts will raise around £120,000 to fund more research to stop leukaemia devastating lives. 

Blood cancer, of which leukaemia is a type, is the fifth most common type of cancer and the third biggest cancer killer in the UK.

Every day, 28 people in the UK are diagnosed with leukaemia.

Its symptoms can include fatigue, fever, unusual bruising or bleeding, and repeated infections.

Only half of leukaemia patients live longer than five years after their diagnosis. 

Leukaemia UK will have a cheer point for its 32 runners at mile 21 of this year’s London Marathon.  

Russell Benson, Community and Challenge Events Manager at Leukaemia UK, said: 

“We are so grateful to our amazing supporters running the London Marathon for us this Sunday and cannot wait to cheer them on! 

"Their incredible support will help Leukaemia UK fund groundbreaking research into kinder and more effective treatments to stop leukaemia from devastating lives.”  

Case study – Mary Thompson: WEST SUSSEX 

The death of her brother-in-law, Ian Sadler, inspired Mary Thompson from Hove, West Sussex, to run the London Marathon for Leukaemia UK, which will be the fourth marathon for the award-winning writer. 

Ian was diagnosed with a rare type of blood cancer, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), which eventually developed into acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in September 2019. 

AML is a fast growing, aggressive blood cancer which needs urgent treatment. Every year almost 3,100 people in the UK are diagnosed with AML, and 80% of those diagnosed will not survive beyond five years. 

“My sister Rachel was shellshocked,” said Mary, “I remember feeling the same.

"Ian was such a larger-than-life character, who was extremely healthy.

"He skied, paraglided and played badminton regularly, and he was also a very competent amateur musician who was in the middle of an MA in music.

"We simply couldn’t believe that someone like him, who was living such a rich, fulfilling life, could suddenly get sick.”  

As part of his treatment, Ian underwent multiple blood transfusions and rounds of chemotherapy.

Visits from his loved ones were limited because of the Covid-19 pandemic. During this difficult time, Mary was the support system for her sister Rachel.

After just over a year of treatment and multiple periods of time in hospital, on 22nd December 2020, Ian died at the age of 62. 

“Rachel and her daughter Imogen, who was only 16 at the time, really struggled after his death and have found it very difficult to adapt to life without him.” Mary said.

“That’s why I’ve decided to run the 2025 London Marathon in aid of Leukaemia UK and in memory of Ian.”

“I am so proud that my sister is running the Marathon,” said Rachel. “She is running for such a good cause and I’ll be there supporting her all the way!”

The day after the Marathon also marks Imogen’s 21st, and the family hopes to celebrate her birthday all together in London.

“Ian had a genuine zest for life, and he still had so much more to live for, so it was desperately sad that he died while still in his prime”, said Mary.

“It will be my fourth marathon, and I am pleased to support Leukaemia UK and will be thinking of Ian while I run.

“Hopefully one day people will no longer have to go through what Ian, Rachel, Imogen and all our family went through.”