My story begins in 1979 when my Mum died from breast cancer aged 50.  Little did I realise that what I experienced during the last few days of Mum's life would lead me to take on the biggest challenge of my life.

Mum lived in Oxfordshire and as hospice care was not available to us Mum was admitted to hospital.  I remember Mum lying in a small room, very clinical and not a nice environment to spend what was the last few days of our time together.  Little did I realise that what we as a family went through would affect me today on taking on the greatest challenge of my life.

I work quite closely with the Hospice in my business career and when I was asked to take part in The Great Walk it seemed such an appropriate time in my life to do it.  Having lost a considerable amount of weight, 10 stones, and with Mum having died 30 years previously I felt that if I could raise enough funds to ensure that families could spend precious time with their loved one in the home from home environment of the Hospice then I would have succeeded.

Training has commenced - going to the gym, swimming and walks planned.  Watch this space for updates on the fitness front!  Having seen some photos of the terrain and area of the walk the hit by Nancy Sinatra comes to mind - these boots are made for walking!

Well here we are four weeks to go until my journey begins.  It seems hard to imagine it is nearly a year ago since I first signed up to do this trip.

Here we are now - five days to go until the journey starts.  Training all but done now and suitcase at the ready.  The local radio have picked up on my story so am on air around 11 a.m. on 11 October.  All a bit of a whirlwind, I cannot believe I am able to undertake this journey.

Once again can I say a very big thank you to those that have donated to my page. 

To any readers of my JustGiving page who have relatives in St Margaret's Hospice my thoughts are with you at this difficult time.  I am taking the challenge for each and every one of you.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Well here I am back in the UK after successfully completing The Great Walk.  It was the most challenging thing I have done.  It was also a very emotional journey and everyone of us who took the challenge have very different stories of why we were there. 

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