A writer who has been blogging his experience since being diagnosed with cancer has raised more than £57,000 in just over a week for Anthony Nolan through his JustGiving page.

John Underwood, 25, started his JustGiving page last Monday while he started his first session of chemotherapy. At the time of publication he had received over 2,750 donations through the page.

Underwood has been supported by his girlfriend food blogger Ella Risbridger (both pictured), who first suspected that he had blood cancer months before his diagnosis.

Writing on his JustGiving page when the total exceeded £50,000, Underwood said: “GOOD GRIEF, fifty thousand pounds! And my first round of chemo still has four hours to go. Thank you - more than two thousand of you now - for your genuinely awe-inspiring generosity. Wasn't expecting this to be the best week of my life, but it's a funny old world.”

The article had originally appeared on Underwood’s frank personal blog, ‘John vs. Cancer’, which documents his process and progress since the diagnosis.

Catherine Miles, director of fundraising at Anthony Nolan, said: "It’s truly amazing to see the global impact that John and Ella’s story is having, with touching messages and donations coming from every corner of the globe. Each time John reaches his amazing target, he sets the bar even higher and inspires even more people to help him reach those goals.

"Not only have they raised an incredible sum of money, but the awareness John and Ella have generated has helped to inspire over 1,400 people to apply to join the Anthony Nolan register last week - a 46 per cent increase on the previous week."

She added: "The money and awareness that this young couple are raising through the power of Twitter will have a lifesaving impact for years to come. They are helping us to put hundreds more stem cell donors on our register, each of whom has the potential to save a stranger’s life who is desperate need of a transplant. We can’t thank them and all their supporters enough.”