Daniel Phillips, pictured with his wife Amy, is now in remission. His mum Violet Phillips is running the London Marathon for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

A MOTHER is preparing to push herself to the limit for a charity close to her heart.

Violet Phillips is running the Virgin London Marathon in April for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

Her son, Daniel, from Colchester, was diagnosed with blood cancer acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APML) aged 29.

Mrs Phillips said: “I was on the Heathrow Express train when I had a phone call from Daniel telling me he had been recalled to Colchester General for a second blood test.

“This was following the one his GP had asked for earlier in the day when Daniel had presented to him with flu like symptoms.

“I was one of those parents who thought that it could never happen to me.”

Daniel was diagnosed with APML in February 2011, immediately began treatment and was placed on a clinical trial.

He underwent gruelling courses of chemotherapy.

Mrs Phillips added: “Without the immediate treatment from Colchester General and St Bart’s, London, my son would not be here today and be in remission.

“Research into treatments has come on so far, but so that you never have to go through the experience my family has, it needs to go further. “Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research’s success depends on us all.

“Do we cross our fingers and hope? Or do we do our bit to find a cure?”

Today Daniel is in remission and is married to Amy, with whom he has two daughters. Visit www.justgiving.com/Violet-Phillips2 to sponsor her.