A WOMAN who spent two decades battling a rare blood disorder with little hope of a cure will run more than 26 miles to raise money for the charity that saved her life.

Nichola Williams, from Leigh, was diagnosed with Congenital Neutropenia at the age of three. Her bone marrow produced an insufficient amount of white blood cells in order to fight day-to-day germs and infections.

She was forced to undergo daily injections to increase her white blood cells, and had annual bone marrow tests at Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, in London.

In 2011, when she was at risk of developing leukaemia, Mrs Williams was handed a lifeline.

The Anthony Nolan Trust - a lifesaving charity which searches for bone marrow and stem cell donors for those in need of a lifesaving treatment - found her a 100 per cent match in Italy.

Mrs Williams, now 30-years-old, said: “After feeling like my body was a ticking time bomb, with the support of my amazing family, partner and friends, I made the biggest but wisest decision of my life and decided to go ahead with the transplant.

“I had some horrendous side effects from the transplant, like severe sickness, nose bleeds, fatigue and hair loss, and countless drugs and blood transfusions.”

Thanks to the successful transplant, Mrs Williams no longer has to undergo daily immune system boosting injections and annual bone marrow biopsies.

She has been cured of the blood condition and prevented her from developing leukaemia, which was a big possibility.

She refers to her anonymous donor as her hero.

Six years after the transplant, Mrs Williams and her husband Ross are preparing for the race of their lives to pay back the charity.

She said: “I recently found out I will never have the chance to thank my donor in person, due to the Italian registry’s rules.

“Ross and I will be running the London Marathon and it is the least I can do in order to show my endless appreciation to Anthony Nolan, and to show how much my donor has done for me.’

“I hate running with a passion, and am rubbish at it, but I can never thank Anthony Nolan enough because they found my lifesaving match!”

The couple are hoping to complete the marathon side-by-side, with a fundraising target of £4,000.

Mr Williams added: “The charity has simply given me a life with my soulmate. The amazing work the charity continues to do meant that I could marry my beautiful wife and plan a future together. I will be forever in their debt.”

Visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/nicandrosswilliams