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The Breakthrough Walk

On the 16th and 17th of September myself and my team - The East End Girls Team took part in the Aviva Weekend to Breakthrough Breast Cancer 60K walk. Soon after registering for the walk, I offered my services as a walking trainer and in March started to run weekly training walks.  Some of the women who started out with me then had done very little walking, so our first walks lasted a maximum of 90 minutes and left some out of breath and wondering what they had let themselves in for. Fast forward 6 months and all 16 wonderful women strode across that finishing line feeling proud, emotional and elated at what they had achieved. All they ask now, is what are we doing next?

The East End Girls read to go at 7.00 a.m.

This is our story.......

With a team of 16, I did wonder how on earth we were going to find each other,  so that was why, having had months to prepare, I arrived at Claire's Accessories at 5.50pm on the Thursday before the walk looking for deelyboppers. Of course, they didn't have 16 pairs so my walking training was put to action as I set out armed with 6, to visit four other Claire's Accessories across London and gather all 16 together. Not the way I had planned to spend the evening but fun all the same, except for the blisters on my toe. No blisters in all my training and I go and get two on my deelybopper trek, just before the Breakthrough Walk.

Friday was registration day and as we all gathered at Excel In London’s Docklands, the excitement was mounting. Registering together ensured tents beside each other and the chance to finalise last minute arrangements like the taxis being organised for 5.00 am, a check that everyone had mobile numbers and also knew where to meet. So after a celebratory drink, we parted all planning to have an early night. Well, the intention was there......

How come getting up for work, college or school is so hard but for an event like this I was awake before the alarm and even managed a little make-up at 4.30?  Even Lindsey, who had stayed over managed a photo before we set off and as the taxis arrived and the team came together, the adrenalin level was rising.  Everywhere looks so different at that time of the morning, even in the dark, although as we arrived at Greenwich Park the sun was slowly showing its face.

We made our way to the breakfast tent in desperate need of coffee and food and started to look out for the others. From being fairly quiet when we arrived, this massive breakfast marquee started to fill up and the air was full of shrieks as people greeted each other.

There was a stage set up for the opening event and lots of loos around (a priority for everyone!). There was no knowing really what was in store, so for the time being it was better the devil you know. The only hitch in proceedings was a hold up with some coaches arriving late, and then after a few speeches reminding us of why we were there and what we were trying to achieve, and a stretching session, we were off. No large stampede, just a slow meander as 1500 walkers made their way to the edge of the park and out into Greenwich.  

The scene was a sea of women mainly and pink – a real festive view and then came the orange t-shirted, leather clad bikers whose bikes were decorated with large bras. They got the loudest cheers and all through the next two days were on hand to stop traffic, give support and have a giggle with. In fact we left Usha in the safe hands of three bikers in late morning when her recently sprained ankle began to cause greater discomfort. The bikers’ role was to flag down the sweep vehicle and make sure Usha got taken to the lunch stop. Having done all her training Usha was determined to do the walk and as her team we wanted to encourage her but also look after her and there was no point her overdoing it.

 Can you just imagine being one person within this wonderful mass of people and also consider what the scene looked like to those hanging out of windows or driving along the road? All through South East London people hooted horns, waved, clapped, and voiced their support and understanding. It was so appreciated. It really does you good to know others are rooting for you. We walked and laughed, at times recognizing some of our old training routes and at other tried to work out where we were.

Every hour or so there was a pit stop, sometimes a ‘grab and go’ – grab a drink and go to the loo, and at other times there was the chance to stock up on energy drinks, food such as energy bars, oranges, wine gums and nuts and take time to stop for a rest and a stretch. The atmosphere was great and by lunch time on day one the deelyboppers and our rather large presence meant that the East End girls were well known!

Thanks to Bob, Nicola’s dad, who very kindly donated our t-shirts and paid for the printing of them - wearing them made us even more a team. His generosity was so fantastic but when we got to the first cheering station at St. Paul’s there was Bob, his wife, Nicola’s sister and Seb, Nicola’s boyfriend complete with technicolour banner. What a surprise! What a buzz that gave us all. In fact we were on such a high as a result that we marched off and left Lisa behind. Complete embarrassment when we found out what we’d done and we soon were reunited – I think she has finally forgiven us.

Walking is a great way to get the feel of a place, and a city like London has so much to offer. Our walk now took us into the city and up to Regent’s Park where we all stopped for lunch. After a good break and the possibility of being featured in the Sunday Telegraph – a long story and one that didn’t come to fruition - we set off again knowing that we had already covered more than half our distance for that day, a great piece of knowledge to have.

Through the park, along by the Zoo and then up Primrose Hill which for many was the major obstacle of the walk.  Not as bad as expected and what a view from the top. North London was hilly and quiet compared to the South East. People seemed so much more reserved and I know we all missed the hoots and toots. By this time, our limited knowledge of this part of London meant just soaking in the atmosphere as we walked, and the chance to make new friends and get to know old ones better. On long straight stretches and on hills, ever present chat took our minds off the task. Having only trained for a maximum of 17 miles, I thought 22 would be hard but for me it was easier than expected and as I had no clue as to how we might approach Finsbury Park, we were suddenly there and before us was our own little fortress and the sea of bright pink tents. We had completed day one!!

Day two started at a variety of times depending whether you’d slept or not and for a couple of team members not quite clearly reading their watches, the day began at 4am! Most of us met for breakfast about 7am and then en masse exited the park about an hour later making rather a lot of noise and starting at a very fast pace.  

Usha who had walked most of the afternoon was with us again and I am glad to say that although some team members were a little stiff there were no major injuries at all, nor blisters. Not everyone was as lucky though and there were some very courageous people who had now resorted to walking in flip flops as it was all their bandaged feet could cope with.

This was ‘telling time’ as walking for one day, all day is taxing but to get back up and start again the next really does require that bit extra and this is where our back to back walk training proved invaluable.

Most of day two was in East London and it did feel that we had come home. Once again there was lots of support in terms of people waving, tooting horns etc and the early part of the walk introduced me to the area around Walthamstow Marshes which I shall certainly be revisiting to explore further. It is another area of great openness, wildlife and water and an area that also makes you wonder if you can still be in a major city.

More pit stops, more fun and laughter and lunch time, a great opportunity to chill for 45 minutes or so. Some people passed on through at a pace but for us this was not a race and with a closing ceremony deadline of 4.30 there was no need to rush.

From Victoria Park where we had lunch, the East End Girls were on old stomping grounds as we walked the canal path down through Mile End and on to Limehouse Basin. When I first came to London this was a rather run down area but no longer. As my dear friend Cathy exclaimed, the first time she saw it – “this is like the South of France”(and she is half French). We were hoping to meet up with Cathy and her girls at Canary Wharf but the walk so far had gone quicker than we thought and as we approached our appointed spot she called to say she was just leaving home. I had to tell her not to bother as we would be long gone.

We were more or less on the final stage now and to keep us going we started to sing. Unfortunately most songs came to an end after a couple of lines and we were left with ‘ten green bottles’, ‘she’ll be coming round the mountain’ and the like. Not very cool but amusing all the same not just to us but to the spectators and other walkers too.

Not long after we arrived at the last pit stop situated beside the Thames at the foot tunnel at Island Gardens. It was somewhat ironic that the lifts were not working, no chance to cheat at all even if we had wanted to. Instead we discarded the offer of more energy drinks and healthy snacks and decided in favour of whippy ice cream and some time to reflect on how far we had come. Time for photos too as we looked out across the Thames at Greenwich Park and the finish.

The weather had been kind to us for both of the days and when we emerged in Greenwich, the sun was shining down, there was a festival in progress and the usual Sunday market crowds were in abundance. It was just about 2 pm and we wondered what to do next. On finishing we had been told that we would be held in a holding area and then all the walkers together would go into the Closing Ceremony but that was two and a half hours away and we had no idea what this ‘holding area’ was like or what it would mean. Should we go and find a pub? Due to the crowds, we decided against that one but instead we purchased a few bottles of fizz from M&S and set off for the park and the chance to relax on the grass.

As we entered the park we became aware of all the people who were there to cheer us on and led by Zara – small person, large voice, we started marching up the hill to one of her chanting songs. The atmosphere seemed charged with energy and I cannot actually recall the hill. What I can remember is this feeling of invincibility and achievement as we strode on. Teresa, who had stopped to greet her son at the bottom, told me in a state of shock that she had run up the entire hill.

Then we were there -  all 16 of us together and still wearing deelyboppers. We headed for the finish. There were cheers, there was elation and then Bob and his merry band, who had been at every 'cheering station' en route for two days were there with a different banner and pink roses for each and every one of us. It was at this point that we realized that we had done it. Tears, hugs, laughter, it was all there and we moved on through to collect our t-shirts and find loved ones.

 There was champagne and more photos and then, glasses and bottles in hand, we went off to cheer everyone else in. I do not know how our voices did not desert us, probably we were carried on by the high but we kept on going through the arrival of more walkers, more family members and even more fizz – thanks Alan, and another lovely banner hand made by my daughter Ellie.

At 4.30 all the walkers gathered together and entered the closing arena. We were welcomed and then we in turn welcomed the survivors and all the staff, security guys and medical teams who had been there for us throughout the weekend. The entire event had been superbly managed and to stand there and remember why we had done this, and to hear how this event had raised a grand total of £4 million and what that would mean, was humbling. We all remembered friends, sisters, mums and other family members and no-ones eyes were clear of tears. I felt humbled and proud not only for what I had achieved personally but for what this amazing team who I had had the pleasure of getting to know, had done.

Throughout the months of training we had become friends, we had grown close but this whole experience had bonded us even further and will continue to keep us together for a long time to come.

........Thank you to all who supported us on this journey, it's been fantastic.

Read what the girls had to say after the walk...............................

"don't know about all you ladies but I am still on a high from 'The Weekend'. Am so glad I did it, so happy to have met all you wonderful people and to have had the opportunity to share  such an amazing experience. I had a ball... Thank you all for your encouragement, support and for your great company. Much love to all the mighty, mighty East End Girls!!" - Marina Coleman xx

"thank you so much for inviting me to be part of your team!  I had so much fun and feel very lucky to have met such an incredible group of people. I will never forget it and feel truly inspired to take part in more events like this." - Hannah Solomons

"Bit stiff yesterday but really buzzing.  It was great. We had the best team and thanks to you all _ I finished!  An amazing experience which I will treasure." - Julia Jones

"I am so high, and happy and delighted to have had such a wonderful experience with such a FANTASTIC group of women. Ladies, I will live with this memory forever. WE made a difference, we counted. Congratulations to all of you" Geraldine Kelly

"Just wanted to reply to all of your lovely emails and say what a fantastic time I had. That was the best weekend I've  ever had!!! I'm glad that my song kept you all going at the end although my throat is a little sore now. I don't know about you but I can't help singing it in the shower. I have never met such a great bunch of women in my entire life and don't think I ever will. I really, really want to do something like that again. Heather, thanks for being the best team captain EVER! You are an inspiration." - Zara Jones

"All I want to say is THANK YOU for being such wonderful team-mates.  You are all so inspirational, fantastic and wonderful. I hope we do continue with Heather's monthly walks." Usha Chudasama

"Thanks again for your brilliance, you fab women. I still ache, not from the walking, from the laughter!" Teresa Bailey

"I feel great and I am still walking to and from school everyday!  The stretching definitely paid of Teresa! Wow what a great weekend we had -the training and stress of raising money was all worth it in the end.  I will never forget the weekend - the whole experience was amazing.  And I feel so privileged to have met such a fantastic group of people as well.  I hope we always keep in touch.  Lena Chudasama

"Wow wasn't the weekend fantastic, a big well done to all of you!!!! Thank you all for your great company, you all made me laugh so much and were absolutely wonderful.  I didn't ache at all really, just felt a little tired. Thank you Heather for being such a great team captain, you were brilliant" Lindsey Smith

If you are inspired and are now interested in taking part in a similar event and want some guidance or training click here

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