Dear All ... WE DID IT...

MY "PERSONAL" INCA TRAIL CHALLENGE

Firstly I want to thank all those who supported me on my McMillan Cancer trip to Peru 27th May - 4th June 2005.

The Inca Trail was a totally amazing experience, one I shall never forget. I trained hard for this and felt ready for the challenge, but altitude is something you can't train for, it will either affect you or it won't. Due to a delay in Madrid we arrived a day late and therefore we had to miss our 5 hour acclimatisation walk. At first I was relieved, I think a lot of people were really but after arriving in Peru, eventually making it to Cusco, you felt the affects of the altitude immediately, that's when it hit us, we needed that walk!. We were strongly advised to keep drinking (water not alcohol!) and to take everything very slowly, I mean very slowly!.. those of you who know me well would know this in itself was a challenge!...

Yvonne (my travelling companion) and I headed for our room for some well earned sleep and to sort out our back pack's and porter pack's. The back pack is what you will carry yourself on a daily basis i.e. change of clothes, snacks, 2Ltr of water, first aid kit, waterproof jacket, trousers, sun hat, sun cream, camera, spare batteries, money, passport, poles........ etc .. the list can be quite long but what you pack is what you carry!. The porter pack is what the porters will carry - let me tell you about the porters:

The porters were awesome, these are the guys who carry the main bulk of your stuff along with camping facilities & everything else, including the kitchen sink! up / down the mountain. They never complained and were always helpful. They didn't have niceties like proper walking boots, poles, trousers/shorts, socks that we could not have done without, they just simply got on with what they did and they were superb. These guys would literally run past you, whether you were going up or down, just to get to camp to set up the kitchen, the eating tent, toilet facilities, camping facilities... it wasn't the 'hard graft' I'd expected - these people made the trip so much more bearable and they were always smiling. To be honest the scenes that you witness, how little these people have, the conditions they'll live and work in for very little pay was a very humbling experience and it's made me take a real look at my life!!, I've even started to de-clutter!.. it's a good feeling (not to say I wouldn't join in at the next Karen Millen sale !! ha ha ). The people of Cusco, Peru are friendly and very hard working, they have no money and very little possessions, they'd have no idea what to do with items that we take for granted and "can't live without".. i.e. toasters, dish washers, microwaves, washing machines etc... yet the chef's amongst the porters provided a 3 course nutritional meal on a mountain after 'running' with all the ingredients, utensils, tables, chairs, tents etc strapped to their backs! Some wore sandals, some had flat school type plimsolls (Dunlop green flash!), the worst was a guy with cut up tyres tied to his feet!... some had trousers made of rice sacks sewn together! And I think most or probably all of their other clothes were from previous groups leaving it for them. It was truly remarkable what these people did for us and always with a smile. There were a total of 47 in our group. I met some brilliant people, we all seemed to bond from the start. In all we made up what turned out to be an excellent group to be with. For the ease of eating/sleeping arrangements the group were split into teams of Red / Blue and Yellow. Each tent was a two man tent and you had your tent buddy named before you left the hotel. I was with Yvonne all the way. Though I took many pictures, I will not capture the glory or Macchu Piccu, particularly the 'lost city of the Inca's, nor will pictures capture the true spirit of Cusco. When I first stood on the balcony of the hotel we were to stay in before our climb started, the view of the mountains was breathtaking, but this was to be an adventure and you can't capture that, it's in your heart and in your memory forever. We climbed heights of over 4200mtrs in total, walked for about 7 hrs a day and - some of the steps of the Inca trail were huge!! And would play havoc with your knees but the height & depth of them made me think these Inca's must have been giants, then others were very shallow and too small for my big feet and I felt like the giant... I guess they were out to either confuse or knacker the Spanish! but in all this was quite manageable, certainly not easy! (It was the Spaniards who fought with the Inca's).. Each day we stopped for lunch the porters would have the three tents (Red, Blue & Yellow) set up with long table, chairs, tablecloth, cutlery, napkin!! and jug of juice - the porters who doubled as the "waiters" would have had to change as they all wore the same shirt & trousers! And they'd be a couple of porta-loos!.. I mean I was expecting to be really roughing it so this took my breath away. Don't get me wrong, there were many times you have to go to the loo anywhere and it's not pleasant but that was what I kind of expected. The food that was served was top notch, I kid you not, better than the hotel in fact and there was so much of it and I found out that what we didn't eat was left for the porters!... so we would often take more snax to hand to the porters as they passed, which they took and couldn't thank you enough for. It really opens your eyes!. They did this all again for the setting up camp for the night!... these porters are the true hero's of this trip!... The altitude didn't affect the porters, they lived there and did this trip a number of times a year... some of us on the other hand were affected. I had a really bad headache on the second night on the mountain but it gradually left me, fortunately I wasn't sick, a few experienced something similar, others were worse but on a whole we all did ok considering we'd missed the acclimatisation walk when we first arrived. We walked through three mountain passes, usually just walking up! It was by no means easy but I'd say manageable. The scenery was breath taking and the heat sometimes unbearable. The night was cold but you were prepared but the day it would be so hot, because of the altitude you burnt quite easily hence the suncream!... lots of it! Yvonne was a great inspiration for no matter how tough it was getting for her she would not give up, stubborn to say the least but she dug her heals in and kept on going, I was so proud of her as was many people on the trip who'd become friends and those at home who may have thought "she aint gonna do it!"... well she did, we all did - in fact out of our group of 47 only 3 people had to go back due to illness. When a member of the group was taken ill but had gone too far to turn back, a porter had to carry her the rest of the way on his back!... I mean... wow!... I have Yvonne to thank for getting me on this trip in the first place, it was her idea and she thought of me - not sure if her intention was as a good travelling companion or as someone she knew who could carry her bag! ;o) , either way I was very proud to be there with her and would carry her bag or back pack anytime. Many of us left behind items for the porters. Boots/Trousers/Fleeces/Gloves/hats.. etc., .. but hopefully we were taking home something far more precious than the items we left!. The trip had me experiencing many emotions!. Getting to the top of one pass known as Dead Woman's Pass -there were hugs and tears and it was truly brilliant - the same if not more so when we finally reached the Sun Gate - the entrance to Macchu Piccu's Inca City... there were tears, laughter, hugs and even a birthday cake was served for a lady!.. I thought of many people who have in some way touched my life - be it for a short while or for years... you were all with me at some stage - during the course of my journey I was telling people about many of my friends and of 'girls nights out' and of course 'in'.... a number of songs sprang to mind on more than one occasion, "On The Radio", "I'm every woman", "Dancing in the moonlight", & "Rappers Delight" even! to name just a few, and when I went looking to buy Panpipe music it was with thoughts of my friends from Dunmow to relax to on a Saturday. I would either talk or reflect on experiences I've shared, endured, overcome & learnt by, for instance (and in no particular order), the Three Peaks Challenge I did in 2002 and of those who did it with me. Of loves past & present. My first ever Ascot with the girls. The fundraising event & party I had before I left for Peru, Maz giving it large in her classes at the same fund raising day - su-bloody-purb!. Nicky's wedding. Dinner @ Karen's (Mrs T's), getting so drunk I had to go and sleep!. The weekend at Blonde's. Drinking/dining with good friends : Pina Colada's, Champagne!!! - somehow I even reflected on a story of a night out when I wasn't even there!!.. when Tine lost her hair piece in Charlie Chans... when that story is told, I still laugh. Xenia & I in Cornwall. Angie and I dancing in the snow 'one Christmas' coming out of Oscars! what seems like 100 years ago!, & generally laughing with so many of you. The time my friend Sue fell over on the train. My day's as a lifeguard many years ago and of the good friends I made there. Many colleagues and friends at BAA - sharing particular moments with my friends Tracey & Eileen. The teams I've worked with and the team I am working with now, I've been very fortunate to work with very nice people. The 'Brothers' day my dad would have with their families, we'd take turns to do 'tea' after the pub!. The day I heard my Auntie Em had passed away and still keep the letter she wrote me. Thoughts of my Nan's and remembering how they were. Thoughts of my aunt Ena & Ronnie who both lost the battle to cancer. Recalling the time I met a young lady who took my picture for my fund raising page and she told me she had experience life with cancer, I remember how I felt at that particular moment. My friend from Sodexo at Stansted and many more of you who lost loved ones. My dear friend Gina who sent me so many thoughts and wishes of good luck - who has prayed for the health of my dad. Thoughts of my siblings and the great and sometimes sad times we've shared and the 'weird world' my family has experienced over the years. I thought of the day I was asked to be Jamie's god mother and hope to take a more responsible and active role, I was very flattered and have been very slack! - being asked to be someone's godmother is an honour and I thought about that a lot - "Jamie, watch out"! There were many, many times upon which I reflected fondly, all of which proves to me what fantastic friends/family I have. I guarantee no one who has touched my life in some way was left out. I even reflected on my dog's and cat's who have long since passed on : Rusty (the ever faithful family dog who would watch over me as a child), Patches (the meanest / toughest cat I ever came across but who left of a broken heart when Rusty died - it's true!) & Cambridge (the beautiful, mad red setter with a personality to match mine (some would say looks to!) ;o) and finally Abbey Cat, still with me and still very vocal - she is now about 19 years old which is pretty good going but she looks after herself (wonder where she gets this from!). Getting to Sun Gate most of my memories and thoughts were of very happy times however there were many thoughts of those who I miss and of those who have been touched by cancer themselves or having to care for someone with cancer, this made me realise how very lucky I am. Amongst the many emotions I experienced within minutes of reaching the Sun Gate, I felt very proud to be helping in some way. I honoured those that have passed on and prayed for those still fighting. To say this was a life changing experience is too early to tell but it's definitely changed me in some way, I hope for the better. An update on my dad!.... As many of you know, my dad has been having treatment for throat cancer. I have some excellent news, my dad had the all clear and the cancer has gone, the treatment worked however he is still very weak, the treatment has taken it's toll and both my mum and dad are very tired. I have constantly been giving them messages of love & support that you have been sending. Sincere thanks from the whole family for your support and kind wishes.... Thank you so very much. I am to move into my parents house to give my mum more support, both physically and financially. My dad has many carer's checking on him, he has to have another check up again in the future but right now we are celebrating that he has been given the all clear. He still has the rfeeding tube in his stomach but hopefully this will be taken out soon. He is weak but he is with us and smiling.... In fact he has shown true strength and courage throughout his ordeal and I am very proud of him, we all are. As for my mum, she is a truly my inspiration, she was the "Porter" in my dad's uphill struggle and he'd be lost without her and the other day when I witnessed my dad thanking my mum ... well you can imagine!. A very touching moment. No doubt I shall be witnessing more moments while I am staying with them... You all know me, you all know I am fit but I kid you not, this was a challenge and I shall not pretend that it was a 'walk in the park' however it was a little easier than the McMillan Team had me expecting and so I urge you all to give this some thought... maybe out of all the people I am writing to... one of you may next year want to take up the Inca Trail Challenge!.. whatever your reason for doing it may be, it's worth it! And I shall be the first to sponsor YOU!. To You!: Some of you may not be named in this letter, some of you may not even understand it all but by the fact you are reading it means that you touched my life and I thank you for being there with me in spirit if not in person. To name everyone would take forever and to let you in on every thought could make you cry. I would rather finish on a positive note and here it is... If you ever find yourself reflecting on things, look back to see how far you've come, then look ahead to see where you're going - it's amazing! Wishes of happiness and prosperity Sarnj xxxxx Ps. You can always use my works address for correspondence: (might be easier till I decide where I want to live !) Building Control Services Room A246 - 2nd floor Enterprise House Stansted Airport Stansted - Essex - CM24 1QW ___________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Macmillan Cancer Relief will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you. So please sponsor me now! Thank you so much for your kind donation and support God bless Sandra xxx (02 December 2004) http://www.macmillan.org.uk/peru/index.html