Update

Sunday 8th August, was a clear day, perfect weather conditions for a walk in the park, The Snowdonia National Park. The team, Catherine (wearing, her spider girl costume to make sure we got noticed), Geof, Amanda, Paul and Vickie set off at 8.30 in the morning from the Llanberis cattle grid.  Sue wearing a rather nice pair of velvet covered 3" stilettos, a pair of pop socks and some Pretty Feet gel insoles set the pace.  And guess what?  Two and half hours and in the same shoes later she was drinking tea at the top, with not a blister in sight.   Sadly, the cloud had covered the top so the spectacular view was missing but that didn't detract from the achievement.  This was the same time that it had taken in April wearing walking boots. 

 

More pictures coming soon!! 

Update.  Due to poor weather conditions on Saturday walk now Sunday 8th August 2010. Mad scramble to re-organise but the weather for Sunday looks brilliant.

Listen to Radio Oxford, Louisa's show at about 11.30!!

2009 was a dreadful year.  It started in September when my daughter Sarah’s friend Lizzie, aged just 23, died of cancer.  Shortly after I learned that Jennie, one of my closest friends, had just flown her mother in law, Sonia, home from Spain. I lost my close friend Kim in November and that same week Sonia died.  Just as I thought it couldn’t get any worse, my best friend Sue’s found out that her mum, Eva had cancer of the brain; Eva lost her fight the week before Christmas.  Three of these lovely people had overcome cancer once only to have it come back in a more virulent form.  I decided over Christmas and the New Year it was time to give something back.

I want to raise money for a cancer charity.  It’s clear from these three people that while we might be winning the battle when cancer strikes, the war is still being lost to secondary cancer.  Macmillian is my company’s chosen charity that seemed a good place to start.  But what was I going to do that would encourage people to sponsor me?  A few years ago I had completed Maggie’s Walk, a 17.5 miles walk round the Circle Line in London and I had done that wearing heels rather than trainers!  So, do something in heels then?  My daughter Catherine is a keen climber and each year visits Snowdonia to climb. So is the idea of Snowdon in heels, mad enough to raise lots of money I hope so!

I climbed Snowdon in April with Catherine and we completed the climb in walking boots in two and half hours (the average is 4 hours).  Following this I realised that the best I could do would be to attempt to walk the Llanberis path in heels.  Anyone who knows me well “attempt” is not usually a word I would use but so difficult is this challenge.  The Llanberis path is known as the tourist path and 1000’s walk it each year but then most of them are sensible and don walking boots or at least trainers.  The Llanberris path is five miles long and the top of Snowdon is just over 3500ft high.  The gradient is gradual except for two stages when it is around 18%.  The path is rough rock and in parts loose shale not easy in walking boots let alone heels.   If you want to read a really good description of my chosen path then please go to http://eryri.peak1.titaninternet.co.uk/llanberis_path

 So on 7^th August, 2010 I will set out with my daughter Catherine and three friends, Amanda, Geoff and Paul who have agreed to carry my spare shoes!  I predict that it will take five to six hours to get to the top and that is if the weather is kind.

So in memory of Lizzie, Sonia and Eva please support my quest by donating generously and telling all your friends about the mad woman climbing”Hills in Heels”!