Marathon runner Carl raises cash for Leukaemia Care

Carl Roebuck (42), of Mexborough, will run the Greater Manchester and London marathons in aid of Leukaemia Care after two people close to him were diagnosed with different forms of blood cancer.

Brother-in-law, Sean Matthewman (46), has non-Hodgkins lymphoma and his friend, Gary Kelly (48), has acute myeloid leukaemia.

When Carl lines up with thousands of others at the start line for the Greater Manchester Marathon on Sunday, April 7, it will be the first time he has tackled the 26.1-mile distance.

But he wont have much time for rest because he will be running the London Marathon just three weeks later.

He is hoping to raise 2,350 for Leukaemia Care, which supports people living with all forms of blood cancer, and has already raised hundreds of pounds thanks to donations from family, friends and colleagues.

Carl said: "I am dedicating these runs to two of the strongest, most amazing people I know  my brother-in-law Sean and my good friend Gary who are both fighting different forms of blood cancer.

"I am training hard and pushing myself every week in the hope I can do them proud."

Carl said he enjoyed taking part in Parkrun, a free weekly 5km run, at Clifton Park and Rother Valley.

He said having two people close to him diagnosed with cancer affected him massively and he wanted to do something to help.

Sean, who is married with two children, was diagnosed with grade four non-Hodgkins lymphoma in April, 2017, and had eight rounds of chemotherapy that year.

He was in remission in January last year but in July the cancer returned and has since been through a stem cell transplant and further chemotherapy.

Sean said: "I am really proud of Carl and humbled by his efforts to raise cancer awareness."

Carl's friend Gary was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in December, 2016, and had a course of chemotherapy at Doncaster Royal Infirmary.

He had a bone marrow transplant at Sheffield's Hallamshire Hospital and the following July he was in remission.

Gary said he had begun feeling ill again last April and by September he had been diagnosed with cancer a second time.

He has since undergone chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a second bone marrow transplant.

Gary said: "It's people like Carl raising funds for charity that helps research to save people's lives."

Carl said he had been running five days a week in preparation for his latest challenge.

"I'm doing 40 miles a week at the moment," he said.

"It's hard fitting it around work - when I was off at Christmas it was easier but now I'm back at work I find it quite hard.

"I think what will keep me motivated is just determination and a bit of Yorkshire grit."

To make a donation visit Carl's fundraising page.