Two siblings from South Wales are set to compete in the London Marathon for DKMS, an organisation dedicated to supporting individuals battling blood cancer.

Jordan Donovan, 29, who now resides in Hackney, and his brother Sheldon Donovan, 34, from Cardiff, will run the event on April 26 to collect money and spread the word about DKMS. The charity assisted Sheldon in his hunt for a stem cell donor after doctors told him he had stage 4B Hodgkin’s lymphoma when he was 25 years old.

Sheldon underwent medical treatment on three separate occasions. When the third round of therapy was required, locating a donor became his only remaining option, prompting close collaboration with DKMS. The pair even staged the charity’s inaugural virtual stem cell donor registration event, which resulted in hundreds of individuals signing up. Sheldon was fortunate enough to locate a compatible donor and receive the transplant, which completely transformed his life.

The successful transplant was made possible by an unrelated individual who had joined the DKMS stem cell donor registry. Sheldon has since implemented significant changes to his way of living and shed 18 stone in weight.

Jordan described his brother’s ordeal, noting that Sheldon endured tremendous suffering before emerging as an even more resilient individual. He said his brother serves as a tremendous source of motivation not only to him personally but to everyone in their circle.

DKMS has stated that the brothers’ activities are providing others with an opportunity to receive another chance at life.