A scientist managed to raise £6,000 for a blood cancer charity after running this year’s London Marathon watched on by his brother who is recovering from the disease.
Tom Lerner, 27, of Beulah Road, Walthamstow ran the 26 mile course on Sunday (April 26) after his 23-year-old brother Josh was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in October 2013.
During a year studying chemistry in Spain for his Master’s degree, Josh was complaining that he wasn’t feeling quite right.
He had severe arm pain, was losing weight unexpectedly and suffered night sweats.
A week after his graduation his cancer was diagnosed.
He immediately started chemotherapy treatment and has had three increasingly aggressive chemotherapy regimens so far before undergoing a stem cell transplant earlier this month, which he is recovering from.
Tom described his brothers outlook as brilliant, with a 90% chance of being cancer free after four years following the treatment.
Dr Tom Lerner crossed the line in 4 hours and 30 minutes.
The research scientist thanked everyone who sponsored him for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research and said it was amazing that his brother could be there to cheer him on.
Dr Lerner said: “The support from the massive crowds was unbelievable.
"Whenever I started to slow down because of crazy cramp around the 20 mile mark, there were loads of people shouting my name and this really made the difference to just keep going and run through the pain. I’m over the moon with my time of 4 hours 30 minutes.”
“The best bit had to be running across Tower Bridge. The wall of noise there was surreal I also loved running past the Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research cheer points, they really gave me a boost and it reminded me why I was running – to support this wonderful charity.
“My brother Josh had his stem cell transplant at the end of March, and it went incredibly smoothly. Although he was very poorly afterwards, he recovered brilliantly and was allowed to go home after only three weeks.
“It will take a few more weeks for him to get his strength back, but it was just amazing as he was well enough to come and cheer me on on Sunday. I am so proud of him.
"It was a great feeling to have him cheering me on, it was a much longer and harder journey for him to get there than it was for me to do the marathon."
To continue to support Tom click here.
Tom and Josh before the big race on Sunday
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