I grew up in East Africa and spent much of my childhood exploring Africa and catching snakes. I came to England and went to art college although went on to forge a career in journalism and public relations. My passion has always remained in art and creativity and in recent years this lifelong dream of becoming an artist has been becoming a reality.

I have two children; Jessie annd Michael and three grandchildren; Jasper, orla and Reuben who I love with everything I have. I enjoy spending my time with family and friends as well as painting, exploring and walking my chocolate Labrador, Millie.

On the 17th November 2023, I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of blood cancer; Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.

I had been unwell with Covid the week leading up to diagnosis and wasn’t getting better. My Daughter persuaded the GP to send me to hospital and within hours was diagnosed with AML.

I quickly started intensive chemotherapy, which is an assault of the system and this new diagnosis has taken me away from doing what I live for now.

A week before Christmas I was told that due to three high risk mutations in my leukaemia, I need a stem cell transplant to survive. However, I was then told that currently, there is no stem cell match for me on the worldwide register.

I am mixed British and southern Irish. I need to find a match urgently to make all of this gruelling treatment worth it. Without a stem cell match I wont be able to continue my dreams of becoming an artist and I won’t be able to continue my life with my precious family.

Please sign up to give me or someone else in my position a second chance at life 🧡 it’s like finding a needle in a haystack but you are there somewhere. We just need to find you!