Coach in Training, My Charity Challenge Journey 🩵

I have wanted to bring back the blog for SO long - life just takes over, as you well know, so I'm super happy to be back and what better time, because this is the start of something BIG and I want to take you along with me.

Some of you may know that I have been working in cancer rehabilitation for quite a long time now, with a little break where I worked in primary care overseas for a couple of years. When we came back I had the most wonderful opportunity to join a charity that I have been connected with for a few years now and always watched from the sidelines the wonderful work that they do.

Now I am so lucky to be considered part of the MOVE Against Cancer family and I couldn't be happier about it. I simply love my role that entails working on, and in, a cancer rehabilitation programme for 13 to 30 year olds. I thoroughly love the charity, everything that we stand for and am so passionate about the work that I do. Spending every day empowering young people to move at all stages of their cancer experience is beyond fulfilling.

Next year MOVE celebrates its 10th birthday - 10 years of changing lives for the better. To mark that I am going to do something that I hope for you and for others, will be inspiring, in bid to raise a whole heap of awareness and a whole heap of pennies along the way. For me, it still all feels a little bit wild (I must stop looking at my route because I'm psyching myself out!!)

I'm going to travel around 900 miles from Edinburgh to London, the long way, powered solely by cycling, running and a few symbolic open water swims along the way, connecting some of the teenage and young adult cancer treatment centres that refer into our programme.

No crazy records to be set pace-wise, no PBs I don't expect, apart from the distance of course, just empowerment through movement and raising awareness and funds for MOVE, an organisation that has grown to be very close to my heart, helping people to rebuild their lives and their confidence through movement both during and after cancer. I hope that this is just the beginning of a wider impact that, in time, helps to bring physical activity to the forefront of standardised cancer care pathways and shows what is possible if we just keep moving.

You may well know that I have trained for endurance events before but this feels different, it feels BIG. So here over the coming weeks and months, alongside weekly updates if you sign up to be part of my email list, and join me over on social media for real time updates, I'll be sharing the good, the bad and the ugly as we move along the training journey.

Watch this space to see how the physical and mental preparation is going and for some behind the scene with my coaching, sponsors, nutrition and all the rest!

I’d LOVE for ALL of you to join me on this journey in whatever way that you can — whether that’s cheering, spreading the word, or getting involved as a partner or sponsor.

If you know a brand or business that might want to be part of this story, please feel free to pass this on or just send me an email or a message over on social media with the details — I’d love to chat and explore any opportunities available. We have an amazing cycling kit partner and a great coach on board (I’ll reveal all soon!), but we're currently looking for other sponsors and collaborators to help bring this whole crazy journey to life.

If this journey inspires even one more person to move for their health, gives some hope at a tough time, or happiness in some way — that’s a win for me.

Thank you for being here and being part of this journey — I can’t wait to take you with me.

Peace and love, A x