A woman originally from Grantham is preparing to take on the Peak District Ultra Challenge after undergoing months of gruelling chemotherapy, aiming to give back to the hospital that transformed her care.
Emily Allsop, 31, who now lives in Canada Water, London, will tackle the 50km distance of the Peak District Ultra Challenge on July 5 alongside four close friends to raise money for University College Hospital (UCLH) Cancer Centre.
Emily is fundraising for the hospital after undergoing six months of chemotherapy last year to treat a rare condition called Rosai-Dorfman Disease, which causes extremely painful lesions in her bones.
Emily said: “I’m doing this challenge to raise money for UCLH Cancer Centre which has changed my life and saved so many others with their phenomenal care and support.”
Emily has been under the care of the UCLH Cancer Centre for several years, with multiple treatments attempted to manage her condition. When those treatments proved unsuccessful, she went through six months of intensive chemotherapy in an effort to achieve remission.
While the treatment itself was physically and emotionally demanding, Emily said the care she received made an enormous difference.
She added: “The support from doctors, nurses and staff at UCLH was phenomenal, helping me through one of the most challenging periods of my life and improving my quality of life through ongoing treatment and management of flare-ups.”
Although the chemotherapy was ultimately unsuccessful, Emily has continued to show resilience and determination, and is now marking almost a year since completing treatment by taking on the demanding 50km Peak District Ultra Challenge.
The event will be made even more meaningful as she will be joined by four close friends, many of whom have supported her throughout her journey, even attending chemotherapy sessions with her. The group, who have been friends since university, will take on the challenge together as a show of solidarity and support.
Funds raised will go towards the UCLH Charity Cancer Fund, which supports services and initiatives that go above and beyond what the NHS can provide, helping to ensure patients and their families receive the best possible care from diagnosis through to treatment and beyond.
Each year, more than 14,000 people are treated for cancer at University College Hospital, with demand for services continuing to grow.
Donations can be made via her JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/page/emily-allsop-1777830423260
For Emily, the Peak District Ultra Challenge represents both a personal milestone and an opportunity to say thank you. The challenge will see participants take on a 50km circular route through the Peak District, including around 900 metres of elevation, starting and finishing in Bakewell.
Entries are still open for the Peak District Ultra Challenge. To take part, visit www.ultrachallenge.com/peak-district-challenge/
Location: Grantham in Lincolnshire
