THE chance to support a family friend battling a rare incurable lung disease has helped transform the life of veteran ‘para’ Tom Archer.
Former Grenadier Guard and member of the 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, Tom, 37, once prided himself on his “Olympic level fitness”.
After leaving the army he admits he could barely run a mile, but that all changed when his wife, Rachael became friends with Chaddesley Corbett mum-of-two Leanne Lillywhite-Sutton.
Leanne was diagnosed with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (known as LAM) which causes cysts to form in the lungs in 2013.
Now Tom, from Aldridge, Walsall, is helping to support women with LAM like Leanne, 38, by taking part in the London Marathon on October 3 in aid of LAM Action, which supports women with the disease.
“I was unbelievably fit when I was in the army, but I’m sad to say that all fell by the wayside when I left the military.”
“Learning more about Leanne’s illness and the challenges people with LAM face, is helping spur me on to get back into peak fitness and raise money for a good cause at the same time.”
Tom is hoping to complete the London Marathon in under three hours and raise £2,000 for LAM Action, which supports LAM patients and their families, and raises funds for research.
Leanne, who runs cake baking business Oak Barn Bakery from her home, has been taking the drug Rapamycin since 2016, which slows the rate of decline in lung function. She and her husband James are parents to daughter Isemay aged six and Oliver aged two.
“I’m really grateful to Tom for participating in the London Marathon and supporting women like me who live with LAM.
“The impact of LAM on day-to-day life is significant, but often goes unnoticed as it’s not an obvious condition.
“Funds raised for LAM Action through events like this are so important as we fund research into LAM and hope that one day our researchers will find a cure”.
Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tom-archer3 to sponsor Tom.
