Your stories
Hear the incredible stories of people who have taken on a trek, walk or hike for Marie Curie.
Gillian's story
Jess's story
Alan's story
Christie's story
If you'd like to share your story or tell us what has inspired you to take on a trek this year, contact the team at uk-treks@mariecurie.org.uk.
"It was so emotional, but fantastic at the same time, seeing all the other people walking"
Gillian works as a Healthcare Assistant for Marie Curie in Cornwall. She took on the 13 Tors Trek to raise awareness of our vital work.
"I'm coming up to my fourth year with Marie Curie. I had an elderly mother, and she was 94 when she passed away. She always wanted me to do something other than what I was doing, caring for people in the community. I wasn't ready to join Marie Curie back then, but when she passed away, I knew I was. It's the best thing I ever did, it really is.
I saw the 13 Tors challenge advertised on the Marie Curie South West page. I love walking – we've got some beautiful, beautiful walks in Cornwall. I'd just joined a ramblers group and I thought, 'I can do that.'
I signed up in February and I was drawn by the fact that the more money you raise, the more free gifts you get – and also the promise of a cream tea at the end!
I did a lot of training actually. I walked quite a lot, when I could. But I had a bit of a knee injury halfway through, when I was out in Greece, which set me back a bit. But I did it, and I raised £900 on my JustGiving page. I've got some money to collect in, some cash to collect in, too, so the final count is over £900, which is amazing.
The walk was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. It's 15.47 miles across Dartmoor, and I did it in 7 hours 55 minutes. The weekend I did it, the heat was immense. It was so emotional, but fantastic at the same time, seeing all the other people walking.
I met a guy whose wife had died a few weeks before and he was walking to raise money for her and, you know, oh it was so emotional. But I did it. I was so proud of myself."
Jess took on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Trek in memory of her mum, who was looked after by Marie Curie Nurses in 2019.
"I wanted to do a charity fundraiser to challenge myself, and trekking amongst beautiful scenery is an ideal way to spend time outdoors!
I'd done fundraising challenges before where I raised £1200, then over Christmas, I collected over 400 boxes for the Bradford Marie Curie Hospice. I love to give back to the nurses and doctors that have helped my loved ones.
In 2019 my mum was diagnosed with late-stage lung cancer. It was devastating. She was my best friend. The Marie Curie nurses did a wonderful job in making her comfortable and helped us as a family, accommodating any needs we had. Her passing was peaceful, and I can't thank Marie Curie enough.
My dad died in 2018 and my mum's best friend who I was really close to also passed in 2021, and the nurses did a great job looking after them too. Spending time with Marie Curie has inspired me to become a nurse, and I'm hoping to eventually make my mum proud.
During my training, I kept my mum in my heart and mind and pushed myself as much as I could to hit my target."
Alan will be taking part in the Yorkshire Three Peaks Trek to show his thanks to the nurses who cared for his father-in-law, Chris.
"I wanted to share with everyone my enormous thank you to Marie Curie for their invaluable, sensitive, compassionate nursing care to end-of-life patients and the emotional support provided to families.
This will also be a spiritual journey for me following the passing of my own parents, and recently my sister who all required end of life care.
I'm looking forward to joining hands with my wife Sara to provide essential support for such a magnificent charity. Marie Curie Nurses cared for my late father-in-law Chris who was diagnosed with leukemia. The nurses provided a sensitive, calm, caring, and compassionate approach toward Chris in his final days with his family. They also provided amazing support for all his loved ones.
I am training hard for the Three Peaks challenge along with Sara – it's provided great focus and motivation for her and her dad would certainly be very proud of her. We have already completed nine-mile walks, and Sara will cycle to work on a 14-mile round journey as soon as the cold snap ends!"
Christie climbed Ben Nevis in 2021 to raise money after Marie Curie Nurses cared for her grandmother, Margret.
"Grandma was loads of fun and she was really caring. She was the type of women who just liked to cook and stay at home, and she had a beautiful garden – just one of those women who seemed to be able to do everything.
The nurses were so kind towards my grandma. They would rub her hand when they were addressing her, it was really respectful. You could tell that they were taking the best care of her.
I've always wanted to do Ben Nevis. I've got two children and as a mum, I'm not really doing anything for myself, everything is for them. It's a personal achievement, something I can be proud of, to have done it for a worthy cause and in memory of my grandma."
