My lovely Dad had an operation to remove a tumour from his bowel in July 2017. The surgery went well but he terrified us by contracting sepsis and suffering a blood clot on the lung, and ended up in intensive care. Sadly, around christmas time Dad starting feeling uncomfortable and in March we had the grim and devastating news that his cancer was back, and had spread to his duodenum, kidneys, pancreas and lungs. Untreatable and inoperable we were steamrollered by the news that the time we had left with him could be measured in weeks. Like thousands of families who have walked this path before us, we are battered by a tidal wave of emotions. Dad was adamant he would not go into hospital, or a hospice and wanted to be cared for in his own home. However he became acutely unwell as his symptoms spiralled. It was the Easter Bank Holiday weekend and he agreed on an emergency admittance to Marie Curie Newcastle, not his local "first choice" hospice but the only one that could take him over the holiday. Thank goodness he did, thank god we found them. If anyone reading this ever finds themselves in the situation of hospice consideration, and sadly statistically some of you probably will, please don't dismiss or fear them. Dad has been so well cared for in a beautiful room with a huge window overlooking the garden. The place radiates peace and serenity. Mam has been able to stay with him overnight, and has been cared for also. Most importantly for us though, we have been able to spend precious time together as a family. We have laughed together, my Dad has always had a dark sense of humour but throw morphine into the mix and he is offensively hilarious, threatening to "haunt" all who cross him. I will treasure those laughs around his bed, and we have found joy in the blackest of places. It is a place of love, where the granchildren and pet doggies are also made so welcome. 

My Dad loves the mountains, being a lifelong visitor to the English Lake District. Facing the end of his life his only expressed regret is that he "wished he had seen a few more places". Well Daddy, this one is for you. I'm going on a little walk in some big mountains to one of the places you never got to see, raising money for the very hospice which has given me some of my most treasured stolen moments with you. But, please don't haunt me, you know I am scared of the ghosties xxx

Thankyou for reading the reasons behind my fundraising. The trek is specfically for the hospice Dad stayed in, which is why i have chosen this challenge. I have never ever done anything close to this before,  as a lazy 43yr old woman, BUT, if not now, WHEN? I hope to channel the gaping void he will leave, into a determination to suceed in his memory.