Hello! Last year I took part in a walking challenge for charity, had a great if painful time and could only wear open toed sandals for the next month. I may be mad, but on 5th of May, I shall be doing it again - this time hiking half the circumference of the Isle of Wight - 52km (32m) in one day.

I’ll be walking with my buddy Alex, who is raising money for the great cause of Mind - see her fundraising page here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/alex-hanlon2

Last year I trained pretty hard, this year I’ll admit I’m less prepared 😬but more determined than ever as I’m fundraising for a charity and cause very close to my heart - Pancreatic Cancer Action, in memory of Dad.

I was aware of pancreatic cancer before Dad’s diagnosis in 2013; it’s notorious in medicine for having the lowest survival rate of all cancers - only 1% of those diagnosed make it to ten years. Disturbingly whilst we’ve made huge leaps in other types of cancer, that survival rate hasn’t changed in forty years.

We were lucky that after diagnosis, Dad was able to have every possible surgery and chemo available, and as such lived three years with the disease before he died in June 2016. A hill walking challenge seems apt to raise money in his memory as he continued to walk in the hills with my Mum, something he loved doing, long after his diagnosis. If I can channel just a teeny bit of his strength and stoicism, this walk should be a breeze...

Pancreatic Cancer Action were supportive of our family through Dad’s fight, and are striving to achieve earlier diagnosis and improved survival. I’d really like to see this change, soon, and to be able to give more hope to those diagnosed in future.

If you’re able to donate anything, whatever the size, to me or to Alex to help these causes we’d be so grateful - your support will get us over the finish line!