Dear friends,

It is, somewhat unbelievably, a whole decade since I was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer at the tender-ish age of 41. At the time, my Aussie surgeon, Dr Dave, somewhat boldly stated that his intention was to give me ‘another 40 years’. I’ve realized now that surgeons really love a soundbite and that was, if we’re honest, one of his less medically sound promises.

However, despite stepping gingerly into the oft-perilous land of a recurrence and a Stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis four years ago (that was announced via a slightly less optimistic soundbite), I think it’s important to celebrate the wins. But hmmm, just how shall we celebrate ten years of ‘still alive-alive-o’?

So perhaps you remember the tiny Himalayas jaunt in November for Coppafeel? The one where I trekked 100km in 5 days with a bunch of absolute legends, banged on about it for months beforehand, did about 4,000 training hike sessions, talked about waterproofs and walking poles without any sense of irony, became an unashamed All Trails app nerd and inspired and /or emotionally blackmailed 160 of you to dig deep to hit an incredible total of £12,600?!

Well, I confess I maaaaay have got a bit whipped up on a bus in the Himalayan Mountains, delirious with fatigue, pumped up on Kendal Mint Cake with adrenaline coursing through my veins and in a fit of madness, flung my hat into the ring to take part in Coppafeel!’s Iceland Lava Trek in July.

“What is this Icelandic madness?” I hear you cry, “It sounds IMMENSE!”.

Indeed. Home to some of Europe’s most incredible landscapes, the Iceland Lava Trek takes in thundering waterfalls, steaming lava fields, plunging fjords and spouting geysers. Crossing the phenomenal Landmannalaugar, the route is through one of the most actively volcanic and alien landscapes in Iceland, providing awe-inspiring views at every step. We'll be:

• trekking 58kms in 3 days through one of the planet’s most volcanic regions

• weaving (and crying probably) through vast steaming lava fields

• camping in some of Europe’s most spectacular and unusual terrain

• walking against a background of multi-coloured rocks

• supporting CoppaFeel!’s mission to ensure that all breast cancers in young people are diagnosed early and accurately.

So if you need me at the end of July, I’ll be found back in my mud-caked boots again, this time stomping through steaming lava fields (WTF?), navigating sheer drops, muttering about the ever-changeable Icelandic weather and definitely having a tantrum about putting my own tent up and down every night like some sulky teenager spectacularly failing her Duke of Edinburgh Award (actually me in a Welsh field circa 1990).

All chat of middle-aged stomping aside though, I’m genuinely beyond excited to be part of this intrepid 60-strong trek team to Iceland for 2025. Iceland was the only overseas trek that Coppafeel!’s founder, the inimitable legend Kris Hallenga, ever got to do herself so it feels pretty special that we get to re-trace her steps, even if it’s over some steaming lava fields and volcanic terrain!

In 2024, thanks to your unbelievable generosity, I managed to raise £12,600 for Coppafeel! which I still can’t quite believe (although still v.proud of my 'Top Fundraiser' trophy!). In 2025, I’m aiming therefore to raise a very respectable and hopefully very achievable £4,000 to celebrate 4 years of living with Stage 4. It's tenuous but it just about works as a creative strategy...

And next year, I promise I'll take the year off, put my feet up and write a book about it all.

Probably.

Love, VCxx