Some people are just amazingly strong. Don’t you think? That was certainly true of my sister Gill. Diagnosed with late-stage ovarian cancer, she was given an exceedingly small chance of living five years. Between chemo and biologics, trials, and medical persistence she just about made it and lived until January 2019.
During her illness, whenever she was able, she would take on a walking challenge alone, step by uncomfortable step. One of those walks was along the whole of Hadrian’s Wall so when I saw that The Eve Appeal was organising a 26-mile fundraising hike in a day along part of the wall, a team of wild horses wouldn’t have kept me away.
A couple of friends stepped up to the plate to do it with me thinking they were going to have a nice little ramble through history. It was anything but. It was a challenge in both name and nature. There were lots of short steep ups and downs and I lost count of the number of ladder styles.
It was a dawn start and we were all a bit cold, damp and morning-tetchy when we set off but soon got into a rhythm. There is nothing like walking with like-minded people. All doing something difficult for a particularly good reason. By the first check point I’d already bonded with a few folks, but not enough to stop me throwing them out of my way for the last Freddo.
I may have imagined it but I’m fairly sure we even met some centurions.
While my friends coped with ever increasing blisters, I realised my deskbound job had left my quads hugely unprepared for ladder styles. By the final check point we were happily at the back but focused on getting to the end. Two of us strode out in silence, nodding agreement at the last hill that those head torches might come in handy after all. I’ve never enjoyed a glass of prosecco so much. We left swearing it was the hardest thing we’d ever done and would never ever consider anything like it ever again.
Fast forward a year and suddenly The Eve Appeal hike in the Lake District was calling our names. Yes, my friends had not only forgiven me, but more had joined in. With new boots they had worn in they were ready to do it all again, but this time without blisters.
Year two, we were more off track but less spread out – close to our guides throughout. It was a walk we did together as a family, so it was full of memories of Gill. From last year at the back suddenly we were at the front – which I have to say was much more Gill (I was always far more a let’s stop and look at the scenery type of walker). By walking in groups, I got to know our fellow walkers better. We all even stopped together by some walls for lunch. This was the point where I discovered I had packed a flip flop. That’s
right – one flip flop. Why?
Once again, the scenery was magnificent, the Eve team welcoming and supportive, and the walkers inspirational. Being in the first bunch over the finishing line was a surprise. And we felt we deserved our well-earned drink, carbtastic dinner and sing-along with the pub singer in Patterdale when we got back to the hotel.
It’s tough, it’s fun, and you’re doing it for the best cause ever. Roll on the next one…
Fancy taking on this year’s trek? Click here to find out more and join Team Eve for Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) at Night on 27-28th September 2024.