I thought the toughest part would be training for a multi-day ultra event. I knew it would be hard; long hours on my feet, sore muscles and mental fatigue. Then there is planning your own multi-day ultra event. I knew it would be complex; 5 locations, 3 disciplines, travel, kit, hydration, food, accommodation, routes and more. BUT, then there is training and planning your own multi-day ultra event simultaneously…. this is when I remembered that planning is its own endurance sport!

So as summer 2024 ended with celebrating my mum finishing chemo; the wetter and darker weather started to creep in. I had made a start with swimming but how do I now start running and cycling on top… and work, and kids and everything. I was feeling slightly overwhelmed thinking about September 2025… I felt like I had a mountain to climb and not enough time to get up it. “September was my Everest - with short days and dark nights rolling in how do I find the time to fit everything in”

This is my perception and experience of my mum’s journey with breast cancer. I am not a Healthcare professional.

I was genuinely ok either way… if she had treatment or not. Sadly, I’d already gone through a cancer journey with my dad 8 years ago. First time round I was selfish - I wanted dad to do everything, no matter the cost to him, to fight to stay and be here with us. “Second time round, 8 years on and now a parent myself; my perception was different… this is my mum’s life, this is her body and this can only be her decision. I would support her either way”.

This is my perception and experience of my mum’s journey with breast cancer. I am not a Healthcare professional.

My mum found a very small lump on her chest. Some people might have ignored it, thought nothing of it or left it for a while. My mum, who has had a very healthy life and doesn’t ever want to cause a fuss made a choice to be proactive and got it checked out immediately with the GP. I believe that this single, and timely decision, laid out her journey over the coming year.

Life happened and I’ve been off line… lets catch up.

I bit the bullet and started swimming in public lanes on a Saturday morning at 7am. I am NOT a morning person. At the same time, the Belvior Triathlon Team were training. I watched them closely for about 2 weeks and then plucked up the courage to go over and chat to the coaches. The following week I was there for a trial session.

Where to start… what could drive such a want or even a need to do something that pushes your boundaries, tests your limits in both a physical and mental way - it’s got to be LOVE.

It all started with this burning desire to do something, anything, that would make a difference, raise awareness, display alliance… feel filled with love. But what? I’d done so many charity things in the past and was known for being active and adventurous so it felt like it had to be a real big challenge to go out and ask people to dig deep in their pockets.