Events

Flora Light Challenge

A beautiful day dawned for the run walk in Hyde Park on 1st September. I had sprained my ankle three weeks earlier so I knew that I would be walking rather than running. (This suited my daughter down to the ground!) There were runners, however, who surprised themselves with their times: Annette, Mary and Nina (our treasurer, who I know had been in training) and Rebecca. Most of us chose to walk, and aimed to meet up at the Queen Mother's Gate, one of the entrances to Hyde Park. When we got there and saw how many people were taking part we realised how impossible it was to recognise Ovacome members in the crowd.
We all wore our new Ovacome T-shirts, blue with navy print, and carried Ovacome flags, the male members of my family held our Ovacome flags proudly and as far as I could tell we were the only charity with large flags. The atmosphere was charged and thousands of balloons could be seen bobbing up and down. I had met two really nice women on the train who were supporting breast cancer, and we decided to meet up in November for another fund-raising event. The one thing that will stay with me was a sense of ‘real friendship shared between the women taking part, just chatting and laughing, and I thought "this is what life should be about". Many women there were suffering themselves, surrounded by their supporters; it was good to be part of it. Some members managed to gain sponsorship, and our thanks go to them, but above all I believe the Flora Light Challenge is an opportunity for our members to meet with each other. We had 20 participants this year including Pamela, Linda, Rebecca and her cousin and Mrs. Sha, Pat and Deborah and various friends and relatives. Even if you plan to take part and then find that you can't £5 of the entrance fee goes towards Ovacome. Let's really build upon this year's success and produce an excellent turnout next year!
Frances

The Three Peaks Challenge

It started at 6.30 on a wet June morning, twelve of us travelling to Scotland in a minibus. Only two were women so we were slightly outnumbered. Eleven hours later we reach Ben Nevis and we start our climb at 18.30. It was quite warm at the beginning and the path was fairly good. The weather soon changed as the cloud came across, the path deteriorated to loose rocks and stones.

At the summit we walked through snow; it was freezing cold and the visibility was a few yards. We made the summit at 21.00. It took two hours to walk back down. At midnight we left Ben Nevis and began our long journey to the Lake District and Scafell. At 5.00 we reached Scafell, rain is falling and continues to fall all the way to the top of the mountain. It rains all the way down too! And at this point I did wonder what I was doing, was I completely crazy or what?

We left Scafell at 10.00 and were on our way to Mt Snowdon in North Wales. 15.00 and another mountain awaits us. It is actually dry when we head off! The time is our main concern; we have to reach the summit by 18.00 to have completed the challenge in 24 hours. It proved to be quite a difficult mountain,, as it was extremely slippery and wet underfoot. At 17.00 we reach the top; it is very cloudy and blowing a gale but all that matters is that we have completed the challenge. My mum, who died of ovarian cancer in 1993 aged 62, was my inspiration to do this challenge and I raised £245 for Ovacome. Next year the London Marathon, so wish me luck!
Christine Johnson

To my mind this must be one of the greatest achievements possible, well done, Christine, all of us at Ovacome are much in awe of you, and really appreciate the money you have raised through your efforts!