Back when I was a Royal Air Force Air Cadet in 2014, I signed upto something called the Nijmegen Marches. A 100 mile road march that takes place every year in Nijmegen, Holland.

Young 16 year old Lily didn't really know what she had gotten herself into but she pushed her way through training and qualifiers (with ALOT of tears and blisters) and finally made her way to Holland.

The 100 miles was split between 4 days, 25 miles a day. The whole City of Nijmegen closes down for the week and parties sprawl amongst the streets where hundreds of thousands of people cheer on the 45,000 civilian and military participants from every stretch of the globe. 

The mixture of wearing full combat uniform, blistering heat, sleeping in a very noisy camp of 6,000 military personnel, 2:30am wake ups and the small feat of 100 miles was a HUGE struggle for me. 

Yet I completed it.....and went back the next two years for more. 

Fast forward to 2021 and of course the Nijmegen Marches have been cancelled due to Covid.

So, this is where my challenge comes in.

The organisers of the Marches announced the plan to host a 'Alternative Four Day Marches' on the 20th of July through to the 23rd. Participants around the world can take part in their local area and track their distance on their app.

After a lot of thought (flashbacks to the pain, tears and blisters) I crazily decided to sign up!

I wont have hundreds of thousands of people on the streets to cheer me on and I wont have team mates to help me when I'm struggling, this truly will be a challenge.

I know how much of a hit St Johns Hospice took throughout the pandemic with their fundraising and I knew inside that I had to try help. Every step I take is going to be difficult but not half as difficult as what the patients and family members go through. So here I am, part of the 35th Birthday Club hoping to raise a few pennies so that SJH can continue with the incredible services that they offer! 

I'll update you all as much as I can through my training and the 4 day walk. If you can, please donate to this incredible cause. 

Lily x