A CRICKLADE couple are giving thanks to two charities which helped them battle against leukaemia.

Rayno Glas’ world was turned upside down in December 2013, when he was told by doctors that he had an extremely rare form of leukaemia after going for a blood test at Cirencester Hospital.

It knocked Rayno for six. The South African national, who moved to Cricklade nearly five years ago through his work in sports pitch renovations, is nicknamed Rhino due to his tall athletic build, and he used to train with the Springbok under-19s rugby team.

But after a lengthy stay in Cheltenham Hospital and then Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre, where he underwent emergency treatment including radiotherapy and a bone marrow transplant, he is now back home and well on the road to recovery.

Blood cancer charity and bone marrow register, the Anthony Nolan Trust (ANT) sourced the marrow for Rayno’s desperately needed transplant in Bristol.

The Cheltenham-based charity Leukaemia and Intensive Chemotherapy Fund (Linc) provided the 26-year-old with a variety of items to make his stay in hospital more comfortable and gave financial support for him and his wife, Roxy, who took time off work to help look after him.

Roxy, 25, who works in the relocations sector, said: “Rayno has AML and ALL leukaemia, which is very, very rare – he is one of only three people in the country to have this type of leukaemia.

“I want to raise awareness of these two charities who have done a great job helping us. Without Linc I do not know where we would have been today. Such a small charity has made such a difference. And ANT managed to find us a donor very quickly, which is great as there are so many people out there who wait a long time for donors.”

Linc provided Rayno with a variety of items to make his time in hospital more pleasant, such as a reclining chair, a DVD player and a fridge.

The couple moved to the area several years ago and are now looking ahead to enjoying life in Cricklade following Rayno’s illness.

Roxy said: “We just bought our first house, every year we have been here is fantastic. My mum is even moving over soon. ”

To find out more about Linc visit www.lincfund.org or www.anothonynolan.org for the Anthony Nolan trust.