I set myself a walk challenge this year via #onemillionwomenwalking #walkchallenge. And one of my best friends Sheila, got diagnosed with cancer in 2018 and is using Macmillan who have been amazing so I thought I should just combine the two and make me HAVE to do this.

To put this total in context, I walked 1409 miles in 2020, starting because it was lockdown, and while I was working 8 hours a day, sat on my bum, at a desk, I had these 2 additional hours where I was not commuting. This worked well until I twisted my ankle and it never recovered properly. But I carried on anyway (as you do) until the end of October 2020 when I had major surgery and my ligament was rebuilt, cartilage was removed, and ankle was micro-fractured to replace it. That meant no putting my foot down for 6 weeks and no serious walking until after 12 weeks.

1409 miles from April to October… 2021 miles should be a “walk in the park”.

I worked out 2021 miles is about 5.5/12500 miles/steps a day – I was ok doing 5 miles already so ½ a mile was not going to be a challenge was it? Er… well…. If you factor in, I could not actually cover any distance in January, and if I go back to work I gain a 2-hour commute (lose my walking time), and I hate walking in the rain… it’s an actual challenge.

But its ok – I have a spreadsheet… and I am monitoring. Its currently March 7^th – Since Jan 1st I have walked 705,821 steps against a target of 865,896 which is only 69 miles short… I will keep you updated… yes its a serious spreadsheet. 

And to be clear this is a “all in” steps challenge. I have a Fitbit counting my steps. If I am working, I do about 1000 steps across the course of the day (mostly answering the door to pick up another Amazon parcel) so it is mostly me making an effort to go out and actually walk.

So please donate, please donate all you can for those with cancer and need this service. They have helped so many people I know and love, and will continue to do so for a very long time.

Thank you very much

Gemma

PS My dog hates me, he is knackered…

PPS It is a year long challenge so I can bug you for donations until Jan 2022 just as we go back into lockdown...