The MoonWalk Edinburgh

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My sister and I decided to do the walk last year but couldn’t get in, we tried for London again this year but again failed to get in, we were delighted when we finally made it onto the "guest" list for Edinburgh.  Our Nan had a double mastectomy many years ago and our own mum had a single mastectomy not too long ago.  I will never forget her walking out of the consultation room and telling me she had cancer.  Dad and I had just been laughing and joking saying how much mum would have loved to be sat with us in the local cafe eating pie and chips!  How soon a life can be turned on its head.  We wanted to give something back to charity for all the hard work and care they put in to making cancer sufferers more comfortable.  Always flying the flag and fighting the cause for a tragic killer that touches so many of us.  I’m lucky, my mum and Nan survived but many families are thrown in to despair by losing their nearest loved ones.  The walk was so difficult and the pain we endured was immense.  Having busy lives with work and family we didn’t manage to train as we had hoped.  But even now, I’m not sure that that would have helped on the night.  Our positive mental attitude got us through.  My sister’s feet were full of blisters and every time I slowed for her my legs started to seize.  I had to walk the last nine miles alone, if you can call it that!  I could not talk to anyone as the pain was so bad.  Instead I ran through the thought processes of all those around me, I could hear my 11 year old daughters words ringing through my ears "mum, you will feel like you have let yourself down if you don’t finish" she was right!  With tears stinging my eyes for the pain I was enduring and for the reasons behind me doing this challenge I trekked on.  Not wanting to leave my sister alone, I rang her every mile marker (and there were 9) to ensure that she wasn’t giving in.  Hearing her teary voice down the phone made me hurt because I couldn’t go back to help her along, I promised that I would not cross the line without her and that if we had to crawl over it together we would.... I met her half an hour after I had reached the 26 mile marker and held her hand.  Together we passed the finish line and received our medals.  Proud is not the word... writing this now, I still feel immensely proud of what we have achieved, but more so intent that we have assisted in raising money for a charity that no doubt has benefitted us personally.  Thank you

" Carole Clayton