Pat takes on Walk1000 miles challenge

As charity partner for Country Walking Magazine's #walk1000miles in 2019 challenge, we've been speaking to Walkers who are getting involved! Pat Hipkiss shares her reasons why she's signed up and what Walk the Walk challenges will help her reach her target!

Since my first MoonWalk London in 2011, I have spent the following years raising funds and walking many miles for breast cancer charity Walk the Walk – I have walked numerous MoonWalks (overnight marathons, wearing a decorated bra!) and also raised money for Walk the Walk at a number of marathon walking events in various countries. My favourite was the Nijmegen Marches in the Netherlands… 100 miles over 4 days.

4 mile round trip to buy birthday cards

I decided to sign up to the 1,000 mile challenge in an attempt to get me fit enough to walk parts of the Great Wall of China in October 2019, again to raise money for Walk the Walk. I booked the trip a year ago…but a major curveball was thrown my way in September 2018 that reduced my walking distances significantly.

In September 2018 I was diagnosed with breast cancer – I consider myself to be one of the “lucky ones” (if such a person exists) I discovered a lump and had it diagnosed quickly. A lumpectomy quickly followed in October an by November I had seen the oncologist - it was decided a course of 15 radiotherapy treatments were required along with 5 years of hormone therapy tablets – all to keep the cancer from returning. However, due to the timing of Christmas, I had to wait until 2nd January for treatment to begin.

I signed up for the 1,000 mile Challenge on 29th December – I needed to focus on a long term goal during 2019. I decided that my mileage would include all dog walks; training and event mileage.

Final radiotherapy session – the ringing of the bell - 22/01/19

I finished treatment on 22nd January… in those 3 weeks I tried to walk as much as possible. Given I was signed off from work, if I needed anything from the shops, I made a point of walking rather than jumping in the car; on a few days when I felt up to it I went for a walk around the estate…it may have only been 1 or 2 miles each time, which doesn’t feel far to me, but it would all add up.

During all of this I needed to decide if I was still going to try to go to China…the answer was an overwhelming YES…I needed something to focus on. Needless to say, other walking events have now appeared in my diary…the Big Half (March), The MoonWalk London (May) and Nijmegen Marches (July), all raising money for Walk the Walk… the training for all of these & the actual events will lead up to my trip to China to walk parts of the Great Wall.

First proper training walk with Steph Barrett @ Draycote Water – 27/01/19

Well, it has been a slow, but expected start to the year & I have managed to walk 43 miles so far…I have planned ahead & I know roughly how many miles I need to walk each month to make sure I can achieve the 1,000 miles.

A lot of colouring still required… but it’s a start.

To sign up or find out more about Country Walking Magazine's #walk1000miles in 2019 challenge click here!

Feeling inspired?

Join Walk the Walk for The MoonWalk London, The MoonWalk Scotland or one of our other Challenges... sign up now and start adding up your mileage in 2019 all whilst raising money for vital breast cancer causes!