In April 2022, Mike Peters, a 65-year-old and the lead singer of the internationally acclaimed rock band The Alarm, found himself on a ward surrounded by people on the verge of death. He recalls, "I was clinging on, and I could sense the doctors' concerns that they couldn't or didn't want to share with me."

Chronic Illness Battles

Peters had first been diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in 1995. But during the band's 40th anniversary tour in the UK, he noticed significant changes in his health. "All day I was coughing, sweating, and experiencing night sweats. It was completely out of control. I knew I had to get seen after the tour ended," he remembers.When he was examined, the diagnosis was quite alarming. "I was diagnosed with pneumonia, and for a leukemia survivor, pneumonia is the worst thing that can happen. The pneumonia didn't go away, and my lungs filled with blood. The leukemia also went out of control, and I was diagnosed with [chronic lung disease] bronchiectasis. I had to hold on just to stay alive," he explains.

Health Scare in 2024

In April 2024, on the eve of a 50-date US tour with The Alarm, Peters felt a lump in his neck. A biopsy revealed that he had developed Richter's syndrome, causing his CLL to "transform" into an aggressive fast-growing lymphoma. "My glands were the size of tennis balls, and I looked like the Elephant Man," he says. This led to the cancellation of the US tour.At one point, he had to face the reality that this could be a serious situation. "I had to think to myself, this could be it. I had to accept and acknowledge it and realize it was a potential outcome. Then, I had to figure out how to cope with it," he recounts.

Family Support and Hope

With the help of his loving family, including his wife Jules who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016 and is now in remission, Peters is facing this new health challenge. "I may be living with a rare and aggressive lymphoma and need a stem cell transplant, but I know I'm lucky. I have my beautiful family, I live in an incredible part of the world, and I have my music," he says.He continues to receive chemotherapy while working with his doctors on the next steps of his health journey. "I know that having a good healthy body and mind is crucial when facing these diseases. I'm doing everything I can to stay as healthy as possible," he adds.

One in a Million Campaign

Through the Love Hope Strength foundation, Peters and his wife Jules are spreading the word about the "One in a Million" campaign. They hope to register more people as blood stem cell donors. "Currently, only 60% of patients find a matching stem cell donor, so the need for new donors is critical. Think about your one in a million - your partner, child, parent, or best friend. Get on the list to potentially save a life now," he emphasizes.For more information and to register, visit www.lovehopestrength.org.