Daniel's memory honoured along every step of the Great North Run

THOUGH the spirit of their much beloved son Daniel is now at rest his memory was with the Greer family   on every step they took along the Great North Run to raise as much money as possible for Cure Leukaemia.

 Daniel’s mother Ann, father Paul and brother James set out upon the  grueling 13.1 miles which comprises the half-marathon from Newcastle upon Tyne to South Shields to ensure they did everything within their power to help any and all families who find themselves in the harrowing set of circumstances they did when they ran the equally grueling gauntlet of supporting their beloved son as he underwent pioneering cancer treatment.

  Although Daniel would sadly succumb to the toll which the Acute Myeloid Leukaemia wrought upon his young body the extended period of time he was afforded with his family was owing in no small part to the cutting-edge treatment administered by Professor Rob Wynn and his talented team at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital    

 Such research is made possible by the generous amounts donated by the Cure Leukaemia charity hence why Daniel’s family took it upon themselves to take to the tarmac in loving dedication to their son. 

Second Chance

“Without Rob Wynn and his fantastic staff in the Ward in Manchester Daniel would not have got as long as he got.” said Paul “They gave him a second chance.”

“We were with Daniel by his side for the two and half years he was battling Leukaemia. It is close to our heart what we witnessed our son going through.

“We thought we should try and give something back to the Cure Leukaemia association as Professor Rob Wynn who was in the Manchester Children's hospital was just totally amazing.

“With regards the Great North Run it was Daniel's best friend  Kieran Connolly whom Daniel went to the Abbey Grammar with.

Kieran said that he ran it last year with his dad and he said if we would do it he would do it again this year.

“So the gauntlet was thrown down and we could not let Daniel's best mate down. So we all went over, myself, Ann, James and Kieran went with his dad Andrew Connolly or Drew as we call him along with his mum Tanya. There were two other runners with them, Caroline and Mary. They were a great bunch that were there to get us through this difficult time of year.”

Although some time has elapsed since Paul last put his running shoes on the entire entourage that travelled to Newcastle to complete the run made sure to cross over the finishing line simultaneously with one and other.

Start to Finish

“It was fantastic and we all managed to get to the finish line. We all crossed the starting line together and then we said listen nobody stay together, go on do you own thing but we will all meet up at the finish line. I ran about three times before it to try and loosen up my muscles. James has already done the Paris and London full marathon so he is well fit.

“We have already put our name back into the ballot for next year. It is a good cause and when you see what the kids have to go through on the wards it would put a lump in your throat. It would motivate you to go out and do something like this.”

With the Greer families simultaneously altruistic  and athletic endeavours having raised over  £3000 for Cure Leukaemia,  Ann Greer  shared in the fact that this money will enable their to be more treatment trials such as the one which   Daniel underwent.   

Pioneering treatment      

“The money will be going towards cure Leukaemia research and trials. When Daniel was in Manchester he was accepted onto his second and third stem cell transplant, they were trials. They were under a professor called professor Rob Wynn. All of his research and his research colleagues are funded by Cure Leukaemia. It is raising money directly to enable there to be more trials and to enable more children to access trials hoping ultimately for a potential cure.

“There is a trial network called ATICUS Network. When researchers find that there is a development that could slow down the rate of Leukaemia or ultimately cure it these ATICUS networks are able to roll out with funding and to get the treatment to people.

“Gary Lineker's son had Leukaemia. He is one of the prominent promoters of the ATICUS network and you will see him speaking out as to why they need fundraising and how it impacts directly on kids. This is what I am interested in, that they can access treatment. We got another 9 months with Daniel and Daniel wanted more than anything to live.”