“My name is Peter McCleave and I am 40 years of age, love competing in Triathlon (Ironman), hold a private pilot’s licence and support Newcastle United Football Club and Leeds Rhinos Rugby League. I like to think I am a positive and social individual who values family above all else and friends a very close second.”
“I love taking on new challenges and proving that anything can be achieved with commitment and hard work. I may not always succeed but I’ll always give it my best shot. My sons mean everything and I intend to do all I can to be around as long as I can for them. I tell them to never give up so I have no intention of doing so.”
“I completed Ironman Wales in September 2016 and two days later felt unwell; I presumed it was the exertion of the event but went to the doctors, where I was diagnosed with Pneumonia and Sepsis. I was admitted to the Countess hospital, Chester where I spent four nights on antibiotics. Over subsequent months I had X-rays to monitor a shadow on my right lung which was presumed to be fluid or scarring from pneumonia. When it had not improved by March 2017 I had a CT scan. The radiologist by pure chance, noted lesions on my skeleton which were suspect. Turned out to be everywhere and from there, myeloma was diagnosed.”
“In hindsight, I recognise symptoms that were present in the year prior to diagnosis but which I had just put down to the exertions of training and everyday life. I would never have gone to the doctors with aches and pains or tiredness so in a sense, feel very lucky to have been diagnosed after the race in September. I now need a stem cell matching donor but my mixed heritage means it is a very rare genetic combination I am seeking. But I know someone out there is my match (2 such matches were found but sadly declined to follow through with the donation) I just have to find them.”
“I have undergone three different forms of chemotherapy treatments and in May 2018 an autologous stem cell transplant in the absence of a donor. I have been told that I’ll have done well to make it through the next seven years. I need an unrelated matching stem cell donor of a similar mixed heritage. I am Chinese/Portuguese/English mix.”
Peter first started campaigning in 2018 to achieve registering 10,000 individuals to the UK Stem Cell Register. Over the last two years he has surpassed this goal of registering potential life savers and has registered over 45,000 and found 13 lifesaving matches! Peter has now set himself a new goal of registering 100,000!
You can follow him on his journey by visiting his website (click here) and reading through his blog.
To join the register please CLICK HERE to read about the process and to get signed up