A Small 55 & 100km Ultramarathon to support Women with Cancer

(Newsflash & update, After a successful 55km race I've now decided to take on an additional 100km race in one day on August 13th in a bid to raise further funds. Read more about my full story below and thank you in advance for your support.

A short while ago I received a phone call from my mum (the most amazing Mum of all Mums I might add) It was a phone call that I will never forget & sent shivers down my spine. She proceeded to tell me that my 23 year old sister had been diagnosed with Cancer.

We all remember those moments when something impactful happens. I was in Caffe Nero at the time, loving life and very nearly spilt my entire coffee on my lap & the persons next door ;)

Somehow despite the shock of the diagnosis I knew in my heart that we would beat this cancer together as a family & that this would bring us closer together. My sister Sophie underwent bout after bout of chemotherapy, painful for friends & family to watch as she went through the agony that is chemotheraphy and her everpresent smile started to fade.

I've witnessed just how hard it has been for Sophie & other cancer patients to get back to everyday life especially after the intensity of treatments like radiation & chemotherapy and felt a strong urge to give back & support other women who are going through the same thing. To help them to get back on their feet, to be nurtured, given nutritional advice & inspiring talks that can help them to lead the life that they deserve, a life of fulfilment after cancer.

Fast forward on to 2016 and I've decided to do my biggest challenge to date to raise money for women recovering from Cancer. In July I will be running a 55km (34 mile) Ultramarathon in Iceland. It's the equivalent of 2.5 half marathons in a row and a whopping 6000ft of elevation. After running a marathon or 2 before I wanted to make sure that this challenge was big enough to scare me, and that in doing so may mimic a small amount of the pain that my sister endured as she went through chemotherapy.

It was a natural choice to raise this money for an incredible charity called Victoria's Promise who can support women who have previously had Cancer to reclaim their lives & take charge. And my target for the next few months is to raise £5000 or more for this incredible cause.

The money that you donate will go directly towards supporting events that will empower women recovering from cancer. The events will give them nutritional advice, increased confidence & the ability to be more & say more. It will also provide them with a safe environment to connect & be surrounded by like minded people.

So please give whatever you can to support this small run for a very big cause ;) I love you all & thank you so much for taking the time to read this.

Live happy, live well & live every day to the full ;)

Ollie Trew