Sign up for Walk of Light in Bishop's Stortford on Saturday March 25 to fundraise for Blood Cancer UK

Life with Leukaemia: A family's story of navigating the emotional, physical and financial challenges of living with blood cancer by Amy Atkinson

As we move into a new year, I hope that 2023 is a happier and healthier year for everyone. Something about the start of a new year makes me feel very reflective. I have to pinch myself when I see how far Joel has come in his battle with blood cancer. Last year started with him being in hospital and the future being very uncertain. I feel so proud of where we are today – Joel has defied so many odds.

On numerous occasions we were told he would not make it, but I truly believe our stubborn determination and ruthless positive mental attitude made a massive difference in his body's ability to fight its way to where it is now.

As well as being reflective, the new year has made me very focused and I am determined to make this year a fundraising and awareness-raising success. I have set myself fundraising goals and would love to invite the community of Bishop's Stortford to join me at the Bishop's Stortford Walk of Light. The sponsored wall will be taking place at Grange Paddocks on Saturday March 25 from 6pm.

The idea is for everyone taking part in the sunset walk to bring something that lights up to shine a light of hope for those who are battling or have lost their battle with blood cancer. I am hoping it unites the community and will be a wonderful event for families to attend.

We held a Walk of Light last March on a smaller scale and it was a lovely evening. It was truly heartwarming to see all the children taking part with their glow sticks, lanterns and torches, enjoying themselves so much. Joel wasn't feeling up to joining us on our walk, so we sent him pictures and videos.

It gave him a massive boost to know so many people had united, inspired by his journey to raise money to improve the lives of people battling blood cancer. Watching the total that we fundraised as a group go up to nearly £2,000 was so motivating.

Walking in step with one another, lighting up the darkness with lanterns the children had decorated, filled my heart with strength and pride. There was a real feeling of unity and it was very empowering. As cruel as cancer is, love is always stronger and events such as the Walk of Light are a reminder of this.

In the last five years there have been outstanding breakthroughs in treatments as a result of research Blood Cancer UK has funded. Joel's treatment is guided entirely by one of the most recent breakthroughs, MRD (minimal residual disease) testing. This enables doctors to test, in great depth, if any cancer cells remain after treatment and to plan next treatments for patients, or, in some cases, highlights that treatment can stop as no cancerous cells are present.

With every step you take and with every penny you raise you will be supporting Blood Cancer UK to create a brighter and better future for blood cancer patients. Please sign up to for the Walk of Light at https://buytickets.at/walkoflightbishopsstortford/816439.

And if you want to fundraise as a team or go solo on your fundraising mission then please visit https://justgiving.com/campaign/WalkoflightBishopsStortford.

When Joel attended his appointment at Addenbrooke's before Christmas, some of the nurses were striking. They were gathered on the roundabout by the entrance to the hospital. Joel went to Addenbrooke's for blood work and to collect his results which confirmed he is still in remission. He also took Christmas presents for the nurses and a card Isla made them.

These are the nurses that cared for him when he was at his lowest, who helped to save his life. They supported me when even walking through the doors of the ward was a task that felt impossible.

Their actions are heroic, but they aren't heroes. They have the biggest hearts, but they aren't angels. They are highly-skilled workers, people who are trying to earn a living during a cost-of-living crisis by doing a job most of us would be too scared to do.

They save lives every day and they do the most important work. They show people patience and care in their hours of need. They don't just deserve pay that reflects that, they deserve pay that exceeds that.

We have seen first-hand how stretched the staffing is in the cancer sector of nursing. I remember talking to one nurse who said she hadn't sat down for eight hours. She was administering chemotherapy to Joel and took such care. She spoke to us both about what she was doing and made time for us, but she had no time for herself during her shift. I just wanted to make her a cup of tea and tell her to sit down for a moment. But she wouldn't as she said she had patients on three other wards to tend to.

I wholeheartedly support the nurse's strike. It is about time the Government gave this occupation the resources it has needed for years.