Just 10 months ago Chris Spencer, 48, had a second life-saving bone marrow transplant facilitated by Anthony Nolan.
Now Chris says it’s ‘payback time’ and is setting out on Thursday 11th September on a gruelling, 150 mile, three and a half day row of the Thames in aid of the charity that saved his life, dubbed 'The Great Thames Row'.
Follow the team on Twitter @poplargreatrow
Chris grew up in the East End of London and now lives with Joanne in Essex. An accomplished rower before being diagnosed with leukaemia, Chris represented England and Great Britain and at the age of 18 was GB Junior Sculling Champion.
'Anthony Nolan saved my life'
Chris was diagnosed with leukaemia in 1997 and underwent a bone marrow transplant two years later. Sadly, in June 2013, Chris was diagnosed with bone marrow failure and had to find a donor to save his life.
He sought the help of Anthony Nolan and a donor was found in Germany: in November 2013 Chris underwent his second bone marrow transplant.
“Anthony Nolan saved my life and, basically, it’s payback time,” says Chris who is now back at work as General Manager of the Everyone Active Hornchurch Leisure Centre.
“I’m so grateful that just 10 months since my second transplant I’m in a position to face this 150 mile rowing challenge. I want the Great Thames Row to raise awareness of Anthony Nolan’s work and raise funds for the charity so that more people’s lives can be saved”.
A tough challenge to raise money
Chris will row alongside his brother Roger, and friends Dan Bartlett, Robbie Coleman and Paul Prentice as Coxswain.
Despite their experience and previous accomplishments including rowing for their country and Great Britain, the five men have set themselves a tough challenge, each day rowing up to twice the distance that many professional rowers at the top of their sport would not contemplate.
Here it is! The boat that is going to take us 150miles in 3.5days (it's the red one) @AnthonyNolan #greatthamesrow pic.twitter.com/5a23lUKUsg
— Great Thames Row (@poplargreatrow) August 29, 2014
Hundreds of family, friends and rowing club members will meet Chris at the end of his row. Among them will be 45 colleagues from Everyone Active who are cycling 150 miles over three days from Cirencester to the Isle of Dogs in support of the Great Thames Row.
Nancy Gray from Anthony Nolan said, ‘The fundraising and awareness raising that Chris and his team are taking on through this challenge makes such a big difference to people with blood cancer.
It costs £100 to recruit each person to the Anthony Nolan register, so fundraising is a vital part of our lifesaving work. The more funds we have the more lives we can save”.
It's all smiles now (apart from Chris). Will they still be there this time next week? #greatthamesrow pic.twitter.com/1GEATAkNXp
— Great Thames Row (@poplargreatrow) September 6, 2014
You can follow Chris's progress on his blog at http://chrisspencer416.blogspot.co.uk/
To sponsor Chris visit: http://www.justgiving.com/Greatthamesrow