My wonderful Nan Doreen Gould (aka Dozza G - she was never really a fan of her name) was the most incredibly resilient woman and taught me a lot about who I am and what I value in life. She was my biggest supporter and inspiration and helped raise me with such patience and understanding.. although maybe letting a toddler watch constant repeats of South Park VHS tapes may be a little questionable! Even when she was diagnosed with MS at the same age I am now, she vowed to never let it dampen her spirits and always found the funny side (even when falling off the odd mobility scooter). 

I'll never come to terms with the fact that her obvious signs of cancer and her serious concerns were ignored twice by doctors despite the lump, dramatically worsening health, and a history of BRCA1 having a history of affecting our family. In 2018 she was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer and we lost her in July 2021 at the age of 72. I will miss her every single day for the rest of my life.

The Challenge

On May 20th, I'll be hiking a marathon across North Norfolk to help raise money for Macmillan who were the only organisation who never let us down, providing support whenever we needed it and being the most open, honest, and caring advice we might not have wanted to hear but definitely needed. I also want to highlight the importance of self advocacy - speak up and speak loud when you suspect something is wrong. 

So.. 26.1 miles, 63,000 steps, 10 hours, not the fittest with a dodgy knee. Any support is hugely appreciated!