Me and myeloma: Alec’s story

I’m 16 and I live in Southeast London with my mum and dad, brother Laurie, who is 19, and cat Darwin. I’m very keen on football. I also love travelling and exploring new places.

What is your connection to myeloma?

In 2016 my dad was diagnosed with smouldering myeloma and underwent chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant in 2021. He is now in remission and has been for four years and is doing well.

You are preparing to take on a huge challenge for Myeloma UK. Why is supporting the myeloma community so important to you?

I chose to support Myeloma UK because it’s a charity very close to my heart, with all the help that my dad has received and that many others receive throughout the country. My hopes are ideally for a cure for myeloma but also to raise awareness of the disease and the effects it has on patients and families. I hope that, one day, no one will have to go through what my dad and many others go through.

Me and my three friends Cian, Fed and Oscar, are attempting to walk to all the London football clubs who were in the football league in the 2024/25 season – which totals up to 13 stadiums. This walk is 89km, or 55 miles, and will approximately take us 20 hours, so we will set off around 3am and hopefully finish at 11pm.

The original fundraising goal was £500, which we have now surpassed, and the amount donated is £638; so the goal now is to raise as much as possible. The clubs we will be visiting are Bromley FC, Crystal Palace FC, Millwall FC, Charlton Athletic, West Ham United, Leyton Orient, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal FC, Queens Park Rangers, Brentford FC, Fulham FC, Chelsea FC and AFC Wimbledon.

I think the biggest challenge on the day will be attempting to keep my legs walking despite the cries of pain from my feet. I am most looking forward to finishing. The feeling of achievement and helping a very good cause will keep us motivated throughout the day.

What message or advice would you give to prospective fundraisers?

I would heavily encourage anyone to fundraise for Myeloma UK due to the great work that they do for patients, which I have seen firsthand. The more people that fundraise for Myeloma UK the more money that can be raised in aid of better treatment. Hopefully, eventually, we’ll make myeloma history.