A LIFE-SAVING donor is set to team up with the woman he saved to run the world’s biggest half-marathon.

Elliott Brock, 43, was 29-years-old when he decided to donate his bone marrow to a young, unknown girl 14 years ago.

After joining the register run by Anthony Nolan, a stem cell transplant and leukaemia cancer charity, in 1998, the now father-of-three donated his bone marrow to Vicky Lawrence, who was just eight-years-old at the time.

Now 22, thanks to Elliott’s donation Vicky was able to win her battle with the aggressive form of cancer and is now studying medicine at Newcastle University in the hopes of becoming a doctor.

Elliott, from Mersea Island, works as a physiotherapist in Halstead and Braintree.

After keeping in touch with Vicky after all these years, the pair met up in 2015 and became firm friends.

They then decided to run the London Marathon in aid of Anthony Nolan last year.

Following the London marathon, Elliott was also nominated for and then won the Shirley Nolan award for Special Recognition at the Anthony Nolan Supporter Awards 2021.

In their time raising awareness for Anthony Nolan, the invincible duo has also raised more than £20,000 in aid of the organisation.

But, looking ahead to their next challenge, the pair decided to take part in the Great North Run in Vicky’s now adopted hometown of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne on September 11.

The run is the world’s biggest half-marathon, and the pair hope to further raise awareness of the charity which brought them together.

Elliott said: “We thought that, after running the world's biggest marathon together, what better idea than to run the world's biggest half marathon together too - especially as it's in her adopted hometown.

“We also believe this is the first time a donor and recipient have run the Great North Run together. 

“We hope to raise even more funds and awareness for the charity Anthony Nolan that made this amazing transplant happen.

“The more people we inspire to join the stem cell register, the more amazing stories like mine and Vicky’s can be made possible.

“It is the cherry on the cake really, a beautiful irony that she is now training to save lives.”

To donate, visit greatnorthrun.enthuse.com/pf/elliott-brock-f09ab