Fiona Murphy

Through the annual sponsored cycle I have been supporting the University's fundraising for the Paul O'Gorman Leukaemia Research Centre for the last six years.  My involvement with raising money for research into leukaemia dates back to the late 1980s when I was a student at the University.

My academic career was put on hold after I contracted acute myeloid leukaemia during my second year.  After six months of treatment I returned to university, starting second year again and went on to graduate with a BEng (2:1) in civil engineering in 1990.  Although a certain ingenuousness of youth meant that I never doubted that I would get better, over the years I have come to realise fully how lucky I was.

The University of Glasgow has been raising funds for research into leukaemias and other cancers of the blood for many years and I firmly believe that the money raised by their volunteers had a role in my recovery.  I hope that by supporting the university's campaign, and leukaemia research more widely, that I can help others in the same way.

I was invited to help stage the first annual sponsored cycle in 2003 because of my experience of organising similar events for children initially in Tollcross and more recently in Rouken Glen Park.  It really is a great event to be involved in.  Although primarily organised by University staff, it is an occasion that requires a large number of volunteers, both to act as marshals round the route, and to hand out refreshments and medals when the participants cross the finish line.

There's no doubt that there is a strong sense of achievement in supporting an event such like this.