Could you climb three mountains within 24 hours? This lot did - and have raised a fantastic £4,000 (so far) for life-changing leukaemia research! ⛰️👏 The team at Vertu Motors in Birmingham took on the Three Peaks challenge last weekend - climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon - in support of their colleague, Iain. Iain was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in March 2020, after experiencing common symptoms such as night sweats, weight loss and unexplained bruising. He endured gruelling treatment, including multiple rounds of chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant, before later taking part in a clinical trial for CAR-T therapy. Thankfully, Iain is now “all clear” from leukaemia and focusing on living as normal a life as possible - aside from climbing three mountains! 🤯 “The challenge was great fun. Tough but fun!” said Iain. “From a fitness point of view I had no issues with the challenge but by the end the impact on my joints from coming down the mountains took its toll on me. “There was a lot of mental strength needed at some points when it got tough. “The camaraderie between us all was great. It was amazing that the team and my company chose to support Leukaemia UK. “Everyone involved was incredibly supportive, not just of me during my illness, but also in actively raising funds for the challenge.” 🧡 Join us in congratulating Iain and the team! You can still donate to their fundraiser here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/david-lee-vertumotors4leukaemiauk (fb)

Game-changing news for blood cancer patients! Personalised treatments, including CAR-T therapy, can now be made on-site in hospitals, meaning they can reach patients faster and closer to home. 👏 This is thanks to new legislation brought in last week by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). CAR-T therapy involves removing a patient’s cells and genetically modifying them to recognise and destroy cancer cells. 🎯 But currently, the cells have to be transported to labs hundreds of miles away to be modified, meaning it can take weeks or months for the treatment to be ready. This new law means that NHS hospitals, ambulances and local care services can complete the cell modification on site - and patients can receive this potentially life-saving treatment quicker and closer to home. 📢 We have been calling on the Government to include a commitment in the upcoming National Cancer Plan to ensure all leukaemia patients have equal access to innovative treatments such as CAR-T therapy on the NHS, no matter where they live. This new law is a welcome step in the right direction. Read more: https://www.htworld.co.uk/news/diagnostics/hospitals-can-now-make-cancer-therapies-on-site-pat25/ (fb)