When a friend said "Who's joining me for the Atlantic Coastal Challenge"?, it was the kick I needed to set myself a new goal, a new challenge, and importantly, an opportunity to raise funds for TWO charities that are close to our hearts.

NB: When you hit 'Donate to a team member' you will see TWO links - each charity requires it's own donation.

The first 'Donate' link is for Alzheimer's Research UK- £250 target https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/louise-cooke85

The second 'Donate' link is for Steps/Perthes - £250 target - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/louise-cooke21

If you'd like to support BOTH you will need to make two donations/split your donation in two - I'm afraid it's the way the JG platform works. Ideally I'd like to raise a roughly equal share for both.

And remember, I will also apply to get anything you donate 100% matched by my employer Microsoft.

Why Steps/Perthes and Alzheimer's Research UK?

Steps Worldwide: I am engaged directly with Steps Worldwide, who support those impacted by childhood lower limb conditions, to ensure that the funds I raise will go specifically towards Perthes related research. Most of you may know that our son, James, got diagnosed with this rare hip condition in 2017. I'll post a link to my blog further down if you want to read the story so far/find out more. In the meantime, please sponsor me and help me reach my £250 target for Steps/Perthes: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/louise-cooke21

Alzheimer's Research UK: We lost my Father-in-law, Roy, to vascular dementia earlier this year. It's likely most of you know of or are touched by someone who is suffering or has suffered from some form of dementia or Alzheimer's, and it's such a painfully sad and helpless process to go through. Again, I've chosen this charity because I hope one day the research will give us the key to preventing this condition. Please sponsor me and help me reach my £250 target for Alzheimer's Research UK: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/louise-cooke85

About me and the challenge!.....

I'd walked a marathon distance before.....10+ years ago/10+ years younger and fitter....and I remember my feet hurting (a lot) but I really enjoyed the experience. So committing to walk TWO marathon distances one day after the other, and now with two dodgy knees to boot, on much more rugged terrain, is definitely going to be a huge challenge!

How has training been going?.....

Erm....could/should be better! I did a 35km in June (and discovered I definitely needed new boots). Next chance I had for a long walk was in September when I 'Walked the Wight' - 45km, and a chance to break in two new pairs of boots. I was rather hoping I'd find it a breeze and therefore the prospect of doing it twice would be less daunting. But alas, as much as I enjoyed the beautiful scenery, weather and spending 9 hours walking with one of my best friends, my feet blistered, my legs hurt and I'm feeling rather anxious about how I'm going to feel on day 2 in October!

Day 1 is Sat 9th October and is 41km and day 2 is Sun 10th Oct and is 44km.

Want to find out more about Perthes and our experience? You can follow via my blog: https://thecookestakeonperthes.com/ October is also Perthes Awareness Month so perfect timing for my challenge to take place!

Please support me in getting round 85km of beautiful but rugged and hilly coastal paths, and even more so in helping me raise funds for much needed research to find cures for Perthes and Alzheimer's. THANK YOU! :-)

#TeamARUK #Makebreakthroughspossible

#Perthes #DoItForPerthes #TeamSteps #PerthesAwareness #PerthesDisease #PerthesWarrior #LeggCalvePerthes #PerthesAwarenessMonth