Hello,

My name is Barbara and I live in Kirkoswald, near Penrith in the idyllic Eden Valley.

Life is good and many people come to our village for peace and tranquility.

In the last few months, however, I had a rude awakening when I was told that both my sister and one of my closest friends have been diagnosed with breast cancer, and I wondered what I could do to help to raise money which would help in the fight against this horrible disease.

I decided to walk 240 kilometres of the Camino de Santiago (The way of St. James) in northern Spain. This is a World Heritage Site declared  by UNESCO in 1993 and is recognised as one of the most popular Christian pilgrim routes in the world. I intend to fly to Madrid on the 31st August 2012, then set off from Fromista to Villafranca over the next 12 days. By asking people to donate, I hope to raise at least £1000 for Cancer Research UK.

We have a one in eight chance of contracting breast cancer as women (or men!) over 50, and this reminds us all of  how vulnerable we all are to life changing or threatening diseases.

I will personally bear all the costs of the trip myself - flights, local transport, accommodation, food and drink and blister plasters! and all the money I raise will go direct to Cancer Research UK.