In 2019 my dear friend, Becca Henderson, passed away following post-operative complications of heart transplant surgery.

Becca was exceptional in every way: she was an outstanding friend in every respect and an exceptional scholar who had already started making a big impact within her field of study. 

Before her transplant Becca was one of only 2 people in the UK with a total artificial heart. Becca's heart had to be removed after she was diagnosed with a rare form of heart cancer. I had the privilege of studying alongside Becca during my Master's and she was my first real friend at Oxford. She always knew the 'right words' to say and she brought a huge amount of joy to everyone who knew her. She is very much missed. 

To remember Becca I plan to take on 30 of the British Pilgrimage Trust pilgrimage routes. Becca had wanted to visit 30 countries before she turned 30, so this seems like a rather appropriate number. The routes will be of varying difficulty and length. If all goes well, I plan to end with St Conan's Way. This starts on the beautiful Isle of Iona and finishes in Dalmally. Throughout this challenge I will be blogging about the historic sites I come across and sharing my 'walking adventures' on social media. 

All donations will go towards the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals Charity. Becca received excellent care at Harefield Hospital, which specialises in care for patients with heart and lung conditions. Every donation received will help the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals to continue to provide the highest level of care to all patients, something that is particularly vital considering the recent effects and challenges posed by COVID-19. More information about the work of the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals Charity can be found here: 
https://www.rbhcharity.org/

Thank you very much for reading about my challenge and for considering donating. Every little bit really does go a long way.