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Christmas cracker fun!

#TeamDKMS takes on the Tatton Yule Yomp.

On Sunday 10 December, three intrepid souls representing DKMS braved the chilly, rainy, Cheshire countryside to take on the Tatton Yule Yomp, the annual festive 10k run through the beautiful Tatton Park near Knutsford. Celebrating the festive season, participating in fancy dress is embraced: there’s a competition for who has the best outfit...#TeamDKMS had a cracking time rising to the occasion!

DKMS usually fields a three-person line-up for the Tatton Yule Yomp. This year, Dan Robson and last-minute newcomer Jeni Nairne bravely joined Lou Clague, DKMS Donor Recruitment Manager for the north of England. Jeni was already volunteering for the race. She was giving out race numbers and answered the team’s call for help when she discovered they were one member down. Did she realise what she was letting herself in for? Probably not!

#teamclague ar 'crackers' running the 10k
Competitors inthe distance running along a beautiful country lane
#teamclague posing for photo at start of the race

Custom-made costume

Resplendent in their specially designed, DKMS-branded Christmas cracker costume, Lou, Dan and Jeni took to the run like ducks to water. This was just as well as there was a lot of water involved!

Tough work but fun

Lou takes up the story. “It was tough work carrying our cracker costume around for 10km and the rain made it all the heavier. We even had to wade through a freezing cold ‘lake’ that went up to my thighs! We thought we had got away without any major mishaps when, at 9km, Dan tripped over a tree root which basically toppled the cracker over - we were all tied together! Somehow, Dan managed to land IN the cracker, whereas Jeni and I slid out onto the very muddy ground!”

Nevertheless, #TeamDKMS did a cracking job raising awareness of the need for more stem cell donors to help us delete blood cancer!

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