So … here’s my story….

In November 2020, I was with my family following the shocking and tragic death of my much-loved brother in law, John. The fifth death in my family in as many years.

‘Cancer,’ someone said to me, ‘is a journey and everyone’s journey is different.’ Now, don’t misunderstand me, I know that we’ve come a long way in the fight against this terrible disease, but in my case, every cancer journey that my loved ones have endured has unfortunately only been one way.  

So I wanted to do something to fight back. I didn’t know what. I wanted it to be something challenging, something amazing, something to raise some money and perhaps most importantly, something to make those people that I loved so dearly, proud of me.

I’m no athlete; my body is definitely made for comfort not speed! I’m fast approaching 60 and my idea of exercise is raising a large glass of Pinot to my mouth! My amazingly fit sister-in-law, suggested the Jurassic Challenge and without much thought or consideration I hastily agreed.

OMG

So here I am! On the 22nd and 23rd May, I will be attempting to walk 100 km in 2 days. In old money that’s 62.1371 miles!

What the hell was I thinking?

Over the last few months, this is what I have learned:

Vaseline can be bought in huge pots!

High wicking knickers look like school PE knickers!

I can wee really quickly!

Bras can be worn on top of tee-shirts to stop chaffing (with a fleece over the top of course!)

A mid-hike change of socks is almost as good as a glass of Pinot.

Electric fences are not well signed!

If you are further than 10 paces from a toilet, never eat a protein bar!

If you can’t go round it and you can’t jump over it - sod it - just walk through it!

I’m never going to look like an athlete!

I have an amazing family (well, to be fair, I already knew this!)

My daughter is my hero.

So, before I ask you to dig deep and to please sponsor me, I need to tell you that I am walking for: my brother-in-law ‘R John’, my sister-in-law ‘R Doe’, Gemma - a close family friend, my amazing dad who I miss every single day and my beautiful sister Jackie who I never got the chance to say goodbye to.

The money I raise will go to Bowel Cancer UK. My sister Jackie died aged just 59. Her first bowel screening would have been at 60. That’s just not good enough.

I have no idea if I will be capable of completing this challenge, but you have my word that I will walk until I drop. Please take a look at the photos-some truly beautiful scenes and some truly bloody awful ones!!

There’s no point in pretending I am something that I’m not!

If you feel that you can, you can also give me the name of a loved one that you have lost. Their name will be written on my tee-shirt. Every name will spur me on.   

THANK YOU, WISH ME LUCK!!!!!!!