I would be
lying if I thought it would be easy, but nothing could really prepare me for the
physical and emotional rollercoaster that was the Moonwalk.
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Ready and raring to go: my mum and I at Moonwalk city |
When I
first signed up for the 26.2 mile overnight walk for breast cancer I didn’t
realise what I had in store.
Sure it’s
a marathon but it wasn’t like I was running it, essentially it’s just a long
walk…right?
Wrong,
very wrong.
It took my
mum and I just over eight hours (including loo stops!) to complete the
gruelling course around central London.

The
atmosphere was fantastic and my stomach fluttered with excitement.
After all
the training and preparation and agonising over decorating the bra, the moment
had finally come.
Setting
off through Hyde Park in the dark the miles seemed to tick over quite quickly.
Spectators
cheered and shouted words of encouragement while boozed up party-goers clapped
and raised their glasses to us.
As we
passed a kebab shop in London Bridge blasting ‘We are Family’ at full volume its
owners and customers danced wildly, gesturing to us to keep going.
At mile 10,
as the Half-Mooners split off to head to their finish point, we continued on
along the river by the light of the moon, feeling surprisingly good.

Well-wishers
and friendly drunks had vanished and most of the city was asleep.
We had
walked 18 miles, a massive achievement anyway but we still had more than 8
miles to go.
I was
feeling okay, I ached all over but I still had reserves, while my mum had well
and truly hit the wall.
My friend
Gemma had by then reached the point where if she slowed down she might not get
going again so we watched as she vanished into the crowd ahead.

By this
point we were barely walking, I think hobbling would better describe our state.
And that
final mile…wow. I felt like a fatigued adventurer trekking through the desert,
looking for an oasis in the wilderness.
The road
stretched on and on ahead of us and as the finish line failed to materialise,
it really felt like there was no end in sight.
And then
like a mirage, there it was.
I put my
arm around my mum’s shoulder, the emotion surging in my chest, tears welling in
my eyes, and with the biggest, weariest smiles we crossed the line.
The sense
of achievement and pride in what we had just done was overwhelming.
Nearly 12
hours on I still feel a bit wobbly when I think of that moment.
Yes, my
feet look like that of an 85-year-old – red, blistered and swollen – my legs
are stiff and aching and when I get up I resemble the Ascent of Man in 3D, but
we did it!
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We made it! |
And I
couldn’t have done it without the support of all my brilliant friends and
family, from coming out on training walks with me to giving me a leg rub after
them (thanks Jon!) and of course by digging deep to sponsor me.
I’m so
proud of myself, but mainly of my mum – you are amazing!
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Emotional: Mum and I crossing the line |
I’ve now
raised £360 for a vital cause so thanks so much to everyone who has donated, without your money this whole thing would have been pointless.
If you
haven’t sponsored me yet you still can here.