I'm part of the Benenden Health Team, hiking 26 miles in the Yorkshire Dales, fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support.

During the past couple of years, I have sadly had two friends die from cancer, and my mother-in-law and my stepmother have both been through breast cancer, so when I first heard about the Macmillan Mighty Hikes coming up as a fundraising challenge, I thought it was a great opportunity to give back to the charity that has supported some of my friends and family.

It also seemed like the good motivator I needed to get fitter and push myself with my walking challenges! I ran a marathon 10 years ago, but hadn’t walked further than about 12 miles before training.

The challenge took on an even greater meaning when, on Boxing Day, my dad was diagnosed out of the blue with stage 4 renal cancer that has spread to his brain. It’s been a pretty big shock, but having the mighty hike to focus on is a positive action I can take, and being out walking is good for my mental health as well as physical.