Thank you to everyone who joined us for the London Bridgathon 2026!
As always, it was lovely to see our haematology community coming together in support of patients and staff at UCLH.
We were thrilled to see over 170 walkers come together in Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens this year! A heartfelt thank you to everyone who walked, as well as friends, family, and colleagues who generously contributed with donations. Your unwavering support means the world to us and plays a pivotal role in making this event a resounding success year after year.
We’re so pleased to share that you have now raised over £12,355, with donations still coming in – we are blown away by your generosity and your support!
What the Bridgathon means to our community
Jamie Raven, who walks with his brother Tom, and their family:
In February 2025, my brother Tom was diagnosed with an aggressive form of blood cancer. This cancer is incredibly difficult to treat for various reasons – blood cancers spread very easily, not to mention the risk of damage to Tom’s immune system. More difficult even than that, however, was Tom’s lifelong learning disabilities, which prevented him from understanding what was happening to him and prevented him from being able to cooperate with many routine treatments for the cancer. After his initial diagnosis, we felt like we were looking at a dire situation, at treatment plans which weren’t designed for someone like Tom and the very real possibility that he wouldn’t live to see his twenty-fourth birthday.
We were proven wrong by the brilliant team at University College Hospital London and so many other hospitals. Not only is Tom still alive thanks to the work of a small army of dedicated professionals, but he’s thriving and is in many ways living through the best years of his life. In the year since our roaring success at the HCC Bridgathon 2025, Tom’s treatment has been transferred much closer to home at Bristol Royal Infirmary, allowing him to live something like a normal life. Where previously he would have to spend weeks on end in hospital, Tom is now able to go out to clubs and parties, to go on long walks with his beloved dogs and travel across the country to see family without any anxiety at all – or more accurately, we feel no anxiety at all, as Tom has remained an absolute trooper throughout the entire process.
So many of our fears about treatment have been proven entirely wrong. The teams at UCLH and BRI have adapted brilliantly to Tom’s needs, and his mental health and ability to partake in the activities he loves have been central throughout the entire treatment process. Ten years ago, many of Tom’s treatment options didn’t exist, let alone in a form he could tolerate. Now, he’s undergone cutting-edge new treatments like proton beam therapy and CAR T-cell therapy, and the willingness of everyone involved to work around Tom is a credit to them.
Tom’s not out of the woods yet. The cancer is still there with a few complicating factors, and more treatments like stem cell therapy may be on the horizon. Nonetheless, coming off of our second annual Bridgathon, we know that Tom is living as happy a life as he ever has, thanks to hundreds of doctors, nurses, learning support staff, cleaners, and many many more. Tom is living his best life, and we couldn’t be more grateful!
Jacquie Sheridan, with her Bridgathon team:
We did our first Bridgathon in 2008 and it is now a family tradition, with as many of us as possible doing it each year. The Bridgathon is a great day out. We love the walk through London, refreshment stops en-route, chatting to other walkers and catching up with staff, all whilst giving something back to UCLH, after the loving care I received there many years ago.
Thank you!
Candy Burns, who walked the Bridgathon for the first time in 2026:
I only found out about Bridgathon in mid July while I was in UCLH recovering from my Stem Cell replacement and thought it would be something I would aim to do. My sister and niece said they’d be happy to walk with me so there was no turning back. I set up my JustGiving page with a target to raise £500.
I had to take it easy after I got home from hospital so didn’t get out a lot to walk or exercise but my generous friends and family had started sponsoring me so that spurred me on to get fit to do the full 8 miles.
6 September was a beautiful day for walking and the atmosphere at Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens was relaxed and fun. We picked up our tee shirts and after the introductory speeches and photographs set off. It was an easy flat walk along the River Thames and we passed some stunning London landmarks. We lost sight of the group along the way and probably crossed the river over the wrong bridge but we couldn’t go wrong as it was a circular walk.
We finished 3rd which was amazing and had a great day. The money raised – over £1100 – is for such a good cause.
Christina and Marc Windmill, walking with Francesca De Angelis
Victoria Dalgleish-Knight, Senior Complementary Therapist at UCLH:
To me, Bridgathon reflects the incredible commitment of its volunteers, patrons and, in particular, Sara. Their hard work makes a real difference to patients, families and staff alike.