Nice article about Geoff's latest latest challenge to raise funds and help raise awareness of The Geoff Thomas Foundation, which has so far raised over £150 million for drugs and research into leukaemia.

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Geoff was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) at a time when the only treatment was chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. Even then, the five year survival rate was only 30%. Geoff was one of the lucky 30%.

In recent years, thanks to incredible advances in medicine, partly funded by the efforts of Geoff Thomas, and other blood cancer charities, a new treatment has been developed for CML. A range of medications, known as Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKI), have transformed the treatment of CML.

Instead of the risky chemo, radiotherapy and bone marrow transplants, the illness can now be controlled, and most sufferers can now lead a normal, or near normal, standard of living. The latest statistics suggest a survival rate of 90% after five years.

I was diagnosed with CML a year ago. It was picked up at a pre-surgical assessment before a knee replacement job. After a bone marrow aspiration and biopsy to confirm the exact sub type of CML, I was prescribed Imatinib, the first TKI to be developed. Within just a few weeks my white blood cell count was back to normal, and the amount of "bad stuff" in my blood was reducing.

There are side effects, fatigue, tiredness, muscle cramps, increased joint pain, mouth ulcers, which I'll have to carry for the rest of my life, but, compared to the alternative of not taking the meds, it's a no brainer!

I'm still working, albeit at a desk job instead of my previous one where I was on my feet a lot, and can do a lot of what I did before I was diagnosed and started treatment. I still went to a few games last season, but not as many as I used to because getting to and from the stadium would flatten me for two or three days afterwards!

To Geoff Thomas and his foundation, and to other charities dedicated to Leukaemia and research, all of which contributed to the development of Imatinib and the other TKI drugs...thank you

It’s wonderful to hear you are making such good progress only a year after your diagnosis. And it’s particularly pleasing to know that your recovery can partly be attributed to the sterling work our own Geoff Thomas has done in raising funds for the treatment of CML. It must be devastating to be diagnosed with any form of cancer, but the courage and determination people like yourself and Geoff have shown in the face of it is quite remarkable and I’m sure your positive outlook will continue to help you a great deal.

In the same week as the sad news broke about Wolves’ goalkeeper Carl Ikeme, Geoff’s inspiring achievements 14 years on from his own diagnosis can be a great source of encouragement to anyone affected by this illness or similar conditions. There is now every reason to remain hopeful of a bright future, and you are literally living proof of that.

I wish you every success on your road to recovery!

My daughter has been clear for seven or eight years now after having been given a 10% chance of surviving for five years.

She was "cured" with what was then a revolutionary idea of a stem cell transplant from foetal material from a stored placenta but it's amazing the huge advances made in beating this horrible illness and it's a shame that so much of the research has been funded by the herculean efforts of people like Ian Botham and Geoff Thomas

Wearing my Geoff Thomas Foundation polo shirt to work today.

My mother was diagnosed over the winter with a very mild and treatable form of leukaemia and takes a pill a day to treat it. At 87, she still leads an active life. Her doctor said the treatment was first researched in Britain so I'm sure Geoff's foundation aided that.

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Gregg Berhalter, US International & USMNT Head Coach
Jill Ellis, England International & Retired USWNT Head Coach
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