In September 2024, we are taking on a MacMillan Mighty Hike Marathon (yes 26 miles!) along the stunning Dorset Coast to raise vital funds for people living with cancer.

Cancer affects us all, but for our family it hits a little closer to home. In March 2016, aged 38, I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. With 3 children (twin boys aged 8 and a daughter aged just 4) this became an even bigger challenge for my husband and I to think about how we could keep as much normality as possible for them.

Multiple surgeries and multiple rounds of chemotherapy followed (along with the obligatory complete loss of hair etc), meaning that most of 2016 is still a blur. But the following March, I was fortunately in remission. It was a long road to recover fully, but I am now thrilled to say I am 8 years clear. The chances of recurrence reduce every year, though I am still taking medication to reduce recurrence, along with all the horrible side affects.

MacMillan were fabulous throughout, advising us of the best way to tell our children (still the worst day of our lives) and providing us with "comics" etc to help explain it to them in ways they could understand. They also advised on wigs, medication and provided a helpline to just have someone to check in with, in those moments where your worries take over.

Added to this, Macmillan have provided support for my father in law (Hannah's father) and Hannah's father in law, including hospice care.

So, I am taking on a MacMillan Mighty Hike Marathon, along with my gorgeous boys (now aged 17!) and their Auntie Hannah to raise vital funds for MacMillan to be able to provide the support to others impacted. Are Hannah and I sporty? Not really to not at all! Have we hiked that far before? Never! But... we are coming together as a family, just as we did before, to take on this challenge. It WILL NOT be easy and is taking some serious training, but it won't be anywhere near as bad as what we have been through.

We have pledged to raise £1,000 as a team and would appreciate any support in reaching this. By fundraising my pledge, I could pay for a Macmillan Support Worker for two days who could provide emotional, practical and financial advice to someone affected by cancer.

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