Thanks for helping my sister

The 23-year-old, of Blackpool, will be running the London Marathon in April, in aid of teenage cancer charity CLIC Sargent.

In 2005, her older sister Lucia was diagnosed with high risk acute leukaemia at the age of 15, and two years later, organised a fuscia-themed ball for the charity as a thank you. Now Aless is following in her sister’s fundraising footsteps.

She is also holding a ladies charity event for family and friends at her house in January, which will see guests dress in their best party frocks, teamed with a pair of trainers. There will be a raffle and she is hoping local business will help by donating prizes.

Aless, who is training to be a nurse, said: “I want to celebrate Lucia’s 10 years off treatment in 2017 and being free of leukaemia and say thank you again to CLIC Sargent for the support they provided to my family. I’m not a natural runner, but it’s for a special cause. It’s a big thing for me and I’m fitting training around being a student nurse, working long days.

“Even though I was quite young, I knew the diagnosis was serious and I could potentially loose my sister. Watching your sibling go through treatment is extremely hard. Seeing her in hospital was difficult not only because she was unwell, but also as she was surrounded by babies and young children going through cancer treatment.

“CLIC Sargent gave our family valuable support. Lucia was inspired to train as a social worker due to the support she received. I was able to go to a siblings group at the hospital where I met others going through the same as me and this was funded by CLIC Sargent.

“Although we will never forget what happened, it is thanks to charities like CLIC Sargent we got through.”

• Visit www.justgiving.com/alesspasqualino or to donate prizes, email [email protected]