Woman who lost her partner to cancer last year set to run 10K in his memory

Hannah Kenyon, a teaching assistant from Culcheth, is taking part in the Tatton Park 10K this weekend, in tribute to her boyfriend, Jonny Williams, who died from Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in February last year.

She will be raising money for Anthony Nolan, a charity which finds matching donors for people with blood cancer.

Speaking about her relationship with Jonny, Hannah said: "Jonny and I met at school, I always liked him but we didn’t get together until we were in college.

"In March 2018, after having been together been for nine years, we bought our own home which we wanted to renovate and really make our own."

In July of that year, Jonny, who was an electrician, noticed lumps on his neck and started suffering from extreme abdominal pain.

After several trips to hospital, he was eventually diagnosed with stage four Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Hannah recalled: "It was such a shock and Jonny had to start chemotherapy literally straight away.

"However, it wasn’t working the way doctors had hoped and his cancer continued to progress.

"This was when a stem cell transplant was first mentioned - the goal was for chemotherapy to get Jonny into remission so he could then have a stem cell transplant, which would hopefully cure him."

With only one half brother and two half sisters, there was no chance of finding Jonny a match within his own family.

Anthony Nolan jumped into action and searched their register of potential stem cell donors for a special stranger who could save his life.

"We were told that Jonny had three potential donors," Hannah said.

"The day we found out, no words needed to be spoken to know how extremely lucky we felt, as I know there are people out there who desperately need a donor but don’t have one."

After just a few months, Jonny and Hannah received the devastating news that Jonny’s cancer had progressed, which meant that he was unable to have a transplant.

He died less than one week later.

Hannah explained: "It was and still is completely devastating, and at times it still feels like a blur.

"Jonny was such a positive person, I’ve never known anyone so positive, and he tried to live as normal a life as possible during his illness.

"He wanted no fuss and always had hope and optimism for the future.

"Even though Jonny was unable to have a transplant, it is just unreal that three strangers were willing to help him.

"I know what it’s like to hear the news that someone out there is a match and is willing to save a life, which is why I just won’t stop shouting about Anthony Nolan."

After Jonny's death, Hannah continued to renovate the house they had bought together.

She also started running and will now be putting on her trainers this weekend in aid of Anthony Nolan, alongside her friend, Sam.

"I know that Jonny would be buzzing about me doing this, he always was my number one fan," Hannah said.

"Sunday, I am sure, will be a really emotional day, but I’ve got a playlist of Jonny’s favourite songs that I’m going to listen to whilst I’m running that will keep me going."

You can sponsor Hannah at justgiving.com/fundraising/10kforjonny.

To find out more about Anthony Nolan, visit anthonynolan.org/events.