A WEST Kirby woman is aiming to put in a marathon effort to raise £5,000 for the charity which has helped her friend battle a rare form of blood cancer.

Hannah Blake is running the London Marathon on April 26 in aid of Anthony Nolan which matches donors of blood stem cells or bone marrow to those who desperately need lifesaving transplants.

Her inspiration for the 26-mile race is good friend Hannah Roberts, who was diagnosed with blood cancer at the age of 18 and has since undergone two bone marrow transplants at the Royal Liverpool Hospital.

Hannah, who last year raised £2,500 for the same cause when she ran the Liverpool Half Marathon, is now aiming to double up her challenge, both in terms of mileage and money collected.

The 24-year-old said: “Anthony Nolan does a wonderful job, helping to save the lives of people with blood cancer. I know that only too well from seeing my good friend Hannah and her family battle through her fight with the disease. 

“I had no idea that the UK's bone marrow donor register was almost entirely funded by charitable donations. This seemed such a great cause and I’m delighted to be able to do my bit to help. It is such a motivation, knowing I could be running to save someone’s life.”

Anthony Nolan, the charity dedicated to saving the lives of people with blood cancer, seeks to educate young people about the lifesaving difference they can make by joining the register, conducts groundbreaking research to improve the success rates of transplants and offers support, advice and information for people with blood cancer and their families.

Hannah Roberts spoke highly of the fundraising, adding: “I owe my life to Anthony Nolan. Without them I wouldn’t be here now.

“I’m so proud of Hannah. She has already raised enough to put 25 life-saving donors on the register to help save someone just like me.”

Sponsorship is already rolling in and Hannah’s family and friends have organised a fundraising quiz night at the Black Horse in Lower Heswall on Thursday, March 19. 

To donate online, visit justgiving.com/hannah-blake9 or call Steve Blake on 07790 581618 for more information.