Trekking challenge was experience to cherish for kidney cancer survivor
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A 17-strong group of women – known as the Blister Sisters – completed a strenuous mountain trek challenge in Croatia raising close to £133,000 for the Highland Hospice in May. Some had experienced cancer themselves and others had lost loved ones and carried out the challenge in their memory. Among them was Maria Crawford, of Inverness, who came back from adversity. She told us her story and what the trek meant to her.
Last year, my friend Anthea Fraser asked me if I’d fancy doing a trek in Croatia to raise money for the Highland Hospice.
I wasn’t too sure because I’ve never hiked before in my life, and the most I’ve ever climbed before was the walk to the Fyrish Monument.
I decided to go along to the first meeting held by Emma Nicol at the hospice, and after the meeting I thought – what the heck, let’s give this a go! So, I signed up.
The main reason for me to do this challenge was obviously to raise funds for the hospice because they do an amazing job – they all do, day in-day out.
However, this was also a very personal challenge for me, as I was diagnosed with Chromophobe renal carcinoma – a rare type of kidney cancer – in August 2021, which resulted in a full radical nephrectomy of my right kidney.
When I first found out there was a lump on my kidney – through an ultrasound and then after waiting weeks for my CT scan results, which felt like a lifetime – all I could think about was my three children.
I have been a single parent to them for the last 12 years, so I started thinking of what would happen to them. I started organising all their birthdays and updating my will, getting things organised just in case of the worst outcome.
When I got my appointment via video call with Dr Wilson, being told I had a 9cm tumour wasn’t easy, but I felt very at ease knowing that we had a plan of action. I was ready to fight this. About four weeks later, surgery was a great success thanks to Dr Wilson and his team at Raigmore Hospital.
A few months later, I went on to have immunotherapy infusions for cancer trials, which unfortunately had to stop after a few months due to the side effects.
Then I went on high doses of steroids to help, but they led to Baker cysts – which I didn’t even know I had – rupturing. It took me about six months to completely heal and walk normally again, but before all this happened, I had already signed up for the trek.
From day one we all gelled and what a laugh we all had. I can honestly say that I’ve never laughed so much in a long time.
By November 2022, I was going to pull out of this challenge as my mobility and fitness levels were awful, but then I remembered why I was doing this challenge – all for a great cause.
So, I put a training plan together focusing on my stamina and leg strength, which consisted of weight training, cardio classes and stretching classes like body balance and yoga and just normal walking for a few hours a week.
The longest walk I did was over four hours with some of the Blister Sisters on the run up to the trek. I was never confident enough to go hiking on my own.
Throughout the year, the Blister Sisters had lots of fundraising events, one being a charity ball which we raised over £40,000. It was an amazing night. I did my own fundraising event called Fittest Party in Town at my local Bannatyne gym – a fun day full of fun classes, a bake sale, raffles, lucky squares and a book sale. I raised £1447 on that day.
Then, the big day arrived and we all jetted off to Croatia. What a bag of nerves I was! I didn’t know everyone in the group, or if I would be fit enough to trek every day and if my knees would cope.
I had so many different emotions going on.
Looking back, I don’t know why I was so worried, because I found an amazing bunch of ladies, and of course our guides Chris and Cath. From day one we all gelled and what a laugh we all had. I can honestly say that I’ve never laughed so much in a long time. Even the cold and wet weather on the hike didn’t dampen the spirit of the Blister Sisters, as we all smashed it.
That amazing week is something I will cherish for a long time. The whole experience was amazing and I’m proud of myself for doing it and proud of each and every one of the Blister Sisters of whom I’ve made friends for life.
So if anyone fancies doing this trek in 2024, I would highly recommend it to anyone and just want to thank Emma Nicol for all the organisation and for an amazing experience.
