In June 2026 I’m doing something slightly wild… On 13 June 2026 I’m taking on the Cotswold Way Ultra Challenge and walking 100km 😅

To put that into perspective… that’s more than two marathons back-to-back, or roughly the distance from Gloucester to Bristol city centre. I’ll be doing it continuously over two days, across the Cotswolds, with very little to no sleep 😅 Yes, I question my life choices too.

This isn’t just a long stroll either. The route follows the Cotswold Way, which means hills (so many hills), uneven trails, countryside paths, and hours and hours on my feet through the day, into the night, and beyond. It’s a proper endurance event that will test my legs, my mindset and probably my sense of humour too.

Anyone who knows me knows I love a challenge… but fitness has never come easily to me. Over the last few years I’ve been working really hard to change my lifestyle, look after my health better and prove to myself that I can do things I once thought were out of reach. I also want to be a bit of a role model for anyone who feels like big goals aren’t for them, because I’ve definitely been that person.

Every year I try to raise money for a charity that means something to me, but this year I wanted to properly push myself. I feel a real responsibility to give back where I can, even if that means signing myself up for a huge personal challenge like this.

I work as a Registered Nurse and educator at Gloucestershire Hospitals, and I also volunteer as a trustee for an arts charity in the city centre, so I see first-hand just how vital charitable funding really is. The NHS does incredible things, but hospital charities help go even further by funding the extras that make care better, safer and more supportive for both patients and staff.

The Cheltenham and Gloucester Hospitals Charity does more for our local community than people often realise. Last year alone, the charity funded thousands of pounds worth of training equipment for my education team. We rely on that support to train healthcare staff, improve clinical skills, support patient safety and help make sure people receive timely, effective care at the bedside. That funding makes a real difference to real patients every single day.

On a personal level, this is about more than fundraising too. Nursing is incredibly rewarding, but it’s also physically and emotionally demanding. Training for this walk is my way of committing to my own health and wellbeing as well. I see it as a bit of health promotion for myself too, which feels important.

I know money is tight and life is hard for many people right now, so please don’t feel pressure. But if you are able to give anything at all, even something small, it really does add up. Every penny helps people whose health is on the receiving end of it.

I’ll be sharing updates on my training all the way up to the event, so hopefully you’ll follow my journey (and keep me accountable 😅). If you feel able, please share this with friends and family and help me raise some money for this amazing charity doing fantastic work across Gloucestershire for our local community.

Thank you so much for supporting me and this challenge. It honestly means more than you know 💙