I fly today. It. Is. On.

Having tried and failed so many times to make it onto a challenge trek I thought it probably best to wait until an hour before I ACTUALLY leave to do my last pre-trip update. 

I packed last night, and as I zip-locked my underwear into little freezer bags (helpful anti-sand tactic), I let myself start to get genuinely excited. I was also a bit scared, because of the 150km trek thing and sleeping outside and blistering heat and no phone charger and no faces I love at night/in the morning (mostly the sleeping outside thing, tbh) but I killed those fears dead with a long bath and a giant dirty pizza.

And I remembered why I'm doing this. I'm doing this because when I needed them most, at the shittiest time in my life, Macmillan were there for me and my family. I felt supported and relieved and could genuinely concentrate on getting better. They are the best charity, bar none, and I want to say thank you. I'm doing it because my Dad, who died 8 years ago, would be enormously proud of me (he regularly told me that I'd never fall over with legs like mine - something I'll put to the test next week). And I'm doing it for all of my family and friends who've had to deal with cancer and its ugly, unwelcome, cruel intrusions. For my Godmother Pilar, for Dylan's wonderful mum Freddie, for Isabel's childminder of ten years Carol, for beautiful Gail's mum Linda.

I want to thank some people too before I go, in case I get kidnapped by Bedouin, or pass out unnoticed behind a sand dune. Without their love, support and generosity I wouldn't be flying to Jordan later today and I certainly wouldn't have raised ALMOST £4k!

My husband Lee, who's quietly and without judgement watched me try and fail to make it again and again, whose kindness and generosity got me started and who I hope will be waiting at Heathrow to bring me home.

My life Isabel, for sitting at the end of my bed in her onesie each morning (wearing my head torch) as I exercised, asking me probing questions about the desert heat and deadly wildlife. And for telling me that I'm the kind of mummy she wants to be.

Gail, the toughest, funniest and most beautiful ex-ballet dancing pig farmer In. The. World. For sending me conditioning exercises and messages of support each and every morning via WhatsApp, for doing this despite dealing with a bodyblow of bad news and for the voice message she sent this morning which made me cry.

Twitter people. Too many and too lovely to mention each individually here (I DO have a flight to catch). Many are friends in real life, many are virtual mates. Thank you so much for your unbelievable kindness, for retweeting my link, for digging deep when you've been skint, for sharing your cancer stories with me and for not taking the piss too harshly.

And everyone else. You know who you are. Love you very, very much. THANK YOU.

See you on the other side!

Clara x

 

13/02/13

Patient followers of the 'will she/won't she Clara Trek Saga' will know that I first started talking about wanting to do a challenge for Macmillan towards the end of 2011 and initially set my sights on Peru 2012. My hip operation this time last year put paid to that plan and I shifted my focus, training efforts and fundraising towards Nepal 2012 instead. Two infections, one immune system crash and a contrary Consultant later, and I was having to change plans again, this time back to Peru, in May 2013. All had been going well both health and training-wise but a visa/permit cock-up means that unfortunately, frustratingly, embarrassingly, I'm having to change plans AGAIN. The new (and FINAL) destination is Jordan, October 2013. If you've sponsored me already, thank you so much, you're BRILLIANT. My Dad, Martin, in whose memory I'm doing this, would find the whole thing hilarious and would encourage me to laugh the disappointment off and focus on getting the job done. So, if you'll remain patient for just a few months longer, that's what I'm planning on doing. Clara xx

05/11/12

Okay... Change of plan. Have been waiting until the last possible moment to make this update, but it's been confirmed now so there's no point in holding off any longer.

I picked up a couple of nasty infections in September which bashed my immune system and worried the Doctors. Some enforced best rest and a rejig of my meds have resulted in my clearing the infections - WOOP! And regular blood tests show that I'm making really good steady progress but the last lot still showed white blood cell count too low/below normal ranges and liver doing things it shouldn't.

The long and short of it is that whilst the next set of results are expected to show me back in the land of healthy immune systems, my consultant won't sign me off as fit enough to trek 5-7 hours a day for a week in the Himalayas. And I hate him.

The lovely team at Macmillan have said they'll transfer all of our cash over to another trip in 2013 - hopefully Peru in May - which should give me plenty of time to a) get back to training and b) raise even more than I'd planned to for this trek. I hope that's okay with everybody.

Those of you who've already sponsored have been really kind and I'm so, so sorry to let you down. I'm especially gutted that my plan to raise a beer to Dad on the anniversary of his death (when the group will be arriving safely back in Kathmandu) didn't work out this time.

If you haven't had a chance to sponsor me yet, please don't be put off. I WILL DO THIS. It's just going to take me a bit longer than originally planned.

Clara x

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