The tide timings and failing light for this walk were a little risky but I thought it would be fun and after all, the worst that could happen was the chance of getting wet feet and needing to use our phones as torches!  

The last walk was completed by 5 of my dear friends Sarah, Andrew, Debbie, Shawn and my partner Ant. We got to the half way point and were so disappointed, as the café was just shutting - no ice cream were going to be consumed for this walk but boy did we make up for it at the end! We had a reservation at The Albion Inn in Crantock and the food was amazing, Marty would have most definitely approved! 

I never really expected for so many people to join me in my walks and it really did surprise me at everyone's generosity at a such a difficult time. I only anticipated in raising around £200 so to have raised £935 for the 2020 Bowel Cancer UK Walk Together has blown me away. In total, my walks in memory of Marty have now raised a massive £1831.91. A huge thank you to everyone that has helped me achieve this.  

For my 3rd walk on 20th September we were yet again blessed with amazing weather. It was the hottest one so far and the walk was completed by 31 people. I'd like to say a BIG thank you to Andrea, who is still recovering from her stage 3 Bowel Cancer but still managed to rally up lots of her friends and family to take part in Covid safe groups of 6 or less. 

I'd also like to thank the Michelle and Richard for taking part with their gorgeous family and dogs, my dear friend Lucy and daughter Lily for being my support for the day and a new friend called Gemma, who had sadly lost her husband Kevin to this cruel cancer only 5 months ago. Kev was only 42 when he died and their story was sadly all too similar to that of Marty's.  

During the walk, we took the time to reflect on our experiences and enjoyed some fun on the inventive handmade swings built into the trees - which made us feel 10 years old again.

We stopped and treated ourselves to a lovely lunch in Trenance Gardens and by the time we crossed the finish line and said our goodbyes, we had reached an amazing £680 for Bowel Cancer UK.  

On Sunday 13th September, I walked another 5 miles for Bowel Cancer UK's Walk Together; this time with my family. 

There are so many feelings and emotions that can go along with a family member being diagnosed with cancer. My guilt and feeling of being helpless never goes away so I'm always busying my mind with what I can do to help others and that's raising money for charity. If it helps in some small way to support research into cancer, or keep the Cornwall Hospice beds open, or help and care for sick and injured hedgehogs, then that's what I'll do. 

We started at a different point on the walk due to the tide times, so it was quite nice for me being a bit different. On the way round I also placed 2 of my Hedgehog Rocks I paint for Prickles and Paws (P&P) Hedgehog Rescue to raise awareness of my spiky friends and it got found by a little boy called Lucas. This led to a £50 donation to the Hedgehog charity that I care very much about and it made my day. Another magical end to a beautiful day that I know Marty would have loved to have been apart of. 

Onwards and upwards to my third socially distanced walk on Sunday 20th September with some more very special people and friends. 

It's random moments like these that I treasure forever - the times when unexpected plans just seem to happen and fall into place - like you've planned it. I had such a beautiful and memorable day on Friday 4th September for the first of my walks for Bowel Cancer UK's Walk Together fundraiser.

I was already looking forward to the day because my best friend Penny was going to be walking the route with me and just before she arrived, the day was made even more special when 2 very dear friends visiting from Germany, were also able to take part in the walk with me. I hadn't told them about it, as their original plans meant they weren't going to be here for it - but thanks to the weather, their plans changed and on the morning of the walk, Thomas asked if he could stay one more night in their van. It was like it was meant to be and I told him about the walk and the rest is history.  It was so unexpected but it was like it was meant to be. The whole day I can only describe as magical.

Connie and Thomas are very special to me, as they helped me and Marty through the three months we spent in Coswig, Germany, while Martyn underwent his 2 operations on his lungs to remove his secondary cancer. We lived in their holiday home and a very special friendship was formed. Me and Connie are very alike and despite not being able to talk to each other due to the language barrier, we have so much in common and communicate in other ways - often with the help of Thomas!

We were met at the start of the walk by a very special lady called Chrissie Jackson, who has been fundraising for a number of local causes since being diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. Sadly she was too unwell to walk with us but I am so grateful to her for coming along to see us off for the start. It really meant a lot to me. 

Throughout the day, so many people were in my heart and mind including Chrissie, my friend Neil who was starting his first day of chemo for his stage 4 bowel cancer, my online friends that have sadly lost their lives to this disease, Marty's dad, who's birthday it was and my parents 44th wedding anniversary! 

I'm absolutely bowled over by how much has been raised so far - £310 and would like to thank everyone for all of their support. I'm really looking forward to the next walk which I will be completing privately with my family one day next week and then the remaining 2 planned walks on Sunday 20th and Saturday 26th September. 

If you'd like to take part or donate to the cause, please visit my Just Giving page: www.justgiving.com/team/CornwallWalksTogether

​It's only 3 days until my 1st 5mile walk for Bowel Cancer UK's Walk Together during September.

For anyone planning on socially distancing the walk with me on Friday 4th September, I'll be starting it from the Beachcomber Cafe at 10.30am (a little earlier then planned to make sure we can get parked).
Link to directions to the car park

The route: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1221972

If you'd like to take part in the walk in your own time, I'd like that very much and would appreciate a small donation of your choice to the cause. To donate visit my JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/fundraising-edit/cornwallwalkstogether

​Thanks to everyone that has donated so far, it really means a lot.

The next 2 walks will take place on: 
Sunday 20th September - approx 10.30am
Saturday 26th September - approx 4.30pm