Hi Everyone,

Ellie & Lucy here, your favourite cousin duo! You're on this page because we are raising money for Macmillan by HIKING a MARATHON (yep, 26 gruelling miles!) around the stunning, but challenging, Gower Peninsula. We would really appreciate your donations, however big or small towards this worthy cause. Please keep reading for each of our reasons for taking part in this challenge!

Ellie's Story:

Being diagnosed with breast cancer wasn't exactly on my 30th birthday list to be honest, and my road to being cancer-free has been mercifully short, but far from easy. It has changed my entire outlook on life, from how I feel about my own body, to how much I value my friends and family (and Lucy, of course, who is lucky enough to fall into both categories!). During my "journey" Macmillan were there. For me, it was the financial advice that I found invaluable- being self employed and suddenly unable to work was terrifying, and it was a great comfort to be advised by someone truly on my side. My clients were amazing and set up a gofundme page, too, for which I will be forever grateful. For other cancer sufferers though, the benefit of Macmillan is just the person there with a cup of tea who really "gets it" that makes all the difference when you're being faced with your own mortality, horrible treatment plans, and fears about upsetting the people you love.

Now I'm better I feel it's time to pay it forward, and give something back, and who better to do it with than the best friend I've ever had, my ever-supportive and hilarious cousin Lucy. I'm not good at much, but it's safe to say I can walk, so here we go with the Mighty Hike! It's just one foot in front of the other, right?

Lucy's Story:

In the last couple of years, cancer has affected two of the people I love most. The first is my Grandpa (Ivor Cedric) who has been battling cancer for over two years and yet always has a smile on his face and is there for the whole family, with some words of advice and expertise no matter what he is going through. The second is my lifelong best friend and cousin, Ellie, who had a breast cancer diagnosis last year and has approached everything with a positive attitude and a lot of humour! During this I have seen how much outside support is needed and appreciated, so when the opportunity came up to raise money for Macmillan I knew I had to go for it.

Although I am terrified about having to hike 26 miles I know that there is no one else I’d rather take on this challenge with than Ellie, who not only is the number one at the "category game" (key skill for hiking) but also has taken every single thing cancer has thrown at her in her stride (pardon the pun) and I so I know this will be a walk in the park for her (sorry end of the puns now!).

If you can donate, please do, we really, really, really, want to hit our target so more people with cancer don't have to suffer alone!

Thank you,

Lucy & Ellie

xxx