Two Friends. One Wall. One Mission….Boobs, Boots and a Bloody Big Wall

Less than 4 weeks to go - we have smashed our target already again so have increased it from £8k to £12k and now decided to go for double the original ask - a whopping £16k between us would just be incredible.

Thanks to everyone who has donated so far, we are blown away - please keep reading to hear our story x

On 5 September 2026, we will take on a five day trek along of the toughest sections of the Great Wall of China raising money for CoppaFeel! with Gi Fletcher and our amazing celebrity captains.... Sara Davies, Vicky Pattison, Dr Punam Krishan and Paralympian Erin Kennedy!

Five days, up to seven hours a day, at high altitude, across steep, uneven terrain. Think near-vertical steps, more steps. and more steps again along with loose stone, slippery slopes and walking poles doing some very heavy lifting!

Jo’s story

Six weeks before my 50th birthday, I found a lump when having a shower. I thought it was a bit odd, but just kept feeling it over a couple of weeks and it didnt go away so thankfully took the decision to visit the GP. As it was before I turned 50, I hadn't yet been called for screening. Within 9 days, I was at the breast clinic, within another 2 weeks I was diagnosed with Grade 2 Breast Cancer, and within another 3 weeks I was in surgery.

It was all a total whirlwind, but I tried to move forward in true Jo style, with positivity and calm determination. Exercise kept me strong the whole way through diagnosis, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. I was so proud to run the Great North Run half marathon 6 months after finishing treatment. If I hadn't have checked my chest that day, it could have been a very different story.

So... why are we doing this together?

We have raised our families side by side since meeting when the kids were little, and been second mums to each other’s children for years. They’re now young adults, so CoppaFeel!’s message feels even more personal. We've been through our fair share of life’s ups and downs. Walking this wall together is our way of celebrating what we have both been through and to raise funds and awareness to help catch breast cancer early, when outcomes are so much better. If sharing our story, training for this challenge, and tackling a very unforgiving wall helps even one person check sooner, it will be worth every step.

Thank you for supporting us, for supporting CoppaFeel! and for helping turn awareness into action. To find out more about CoppaFeel! head to www.coppafeel.org.

And please, check your chests and pecs. Then remind someone else – male or female – to check theirs.

Thanks so much for your donation & support.

Big love, Jane and Jo