The Mighty Hikes community

“Just WOW, I have entered quite a few races in my time but doing a Mighty Hike was by far the best organised I have ever been to. Macmillan are an amazing organisation and have been a massive help to me and my family throughout our darkest times, yesterday they did not let us down!”

“Worries of food with my coeliac disease and making it round with the peripheral neuropathy that chemotherapy has left with me with, worries I was not being able to stop for rest or needing my wheelchair. I had a few falls, but people were there to help us. Our support team were fabulous along with the Macmillan team got us through the other end, can't thank you all enough.”

Laura, took on the marathon Norfolk Coast Mighty Hike.– despite suffering debilitating pins and needles and numbness in her feet following chemotherapy treatment. 

Laura, a mother-of-two, was left horrified by the paltry sick payment she received after her breast cancer diagnosis and feared she wouldn’t be able to heat, let alone keep, her home. She had the misfortune of being in a relatively new job when she discovered she would need time off work to have potentially lifesaving chemotherapy treatment. The brief duration of her employment meant she wasn’t eligible for her new company’s sick pay scheme and would instead have to rely on statutory sick pay (SSP) of £96.35 a week (now £99.35 a week) as her main source of income. This wouldn’t come close to covering her most basic living costs, like household bills, groceries, heating and rent. 

She said: “I had used up my holiday days when I took time off for surgery, so now SSP was going to kick in and I thought that would be ok, but no. When it came through, I cried. It was only just enough to pay the bills and that was without the rent. How was I going to be able to pay my rent?” Laura had until then largely resisted reaching out for direct help, preferring the anonymity of Macmillan’s Online Community to seek advice and support, and connect with people who understood what she was going through. In that moment however, it was clear she needed to seek expert, practical assistance – and fast – if she was to keep a roof over her head. 

So, she decided to call 0808 808 00 00, the free Macmillan Support Line, and that changed everything. She said: “I remember that phone call very vividly; it was a phone call out of desperation. I called up in tears, an absolute mess, because I was sure they wouldn’t be able to help me and would just pass me on to another organisation. That wasn’t the case at all. “I spoke to a lady who was so lovely and really took the time to explain how she could help me. She told me I could claim for Universal Credit and how to go about doing this, and also explained that I might be able to get my utility bills reduced. Then she said I could get a one-off grant worth £350 and I was in complete disbelief. “I explained that I was not able to pay it back, but she told me I didn’t have to. I cried so much but this time with happiness because I could pay my rent for that month and also buy some oil for heating. There were no complicated forms to complete and at the end of the conversation, I just remember feeling sheer relief.” The Macmillan Grant appeared in Laura’s bank account the day after the Macmillan specialist made an application on her behalf, providing enough to keep her head above water until her Universal Credit payments took effect five weeks later. Macmillan grants provided emergency funds worth around £112,200 for 299 people living with cancer in Norfolk in 2021.

"We were amazed by the organisation that goes into Macmillan Mighty Hikes. Everything from the support from the staff on the course to the food and the information you get is outstanding. It's off the scale.”

Only two months after having emergency brain surgery from experiencing an often-fatal subarachnoid haemorrhage. Bernie completed the 26-mile Giant’s Causeway Mighty Hike to mark the first anniversary or her brother Anthony's death from tune cancer.

Anthony had been treated at The Christie in Manchester and received support from Macmillan teams who Bernie was determined to raise funds for while honouring Anthony's memory. After completing the mike, Bernie gave her Mighty Hike medal to Helen, the neurosurgeon who saved her life.

"There was only one neurosurgeon who was experienced enough to
do land I was Helen. she came in on her day onto operate ere and then. I owe her everything. She was so kind and professional. Thank God for people like her. I told her and all the doctors and nurses I had to get through it because I had the Mighty Hike to do for Anthony in Northern Ireland at the end or June.” 

"I was so incredibly lucky. I call myself the 'walking miracle! Helen's professionalism and kindness saved my life without a doubt. I do owe her everything and it was my absolute privilege to give her my Macmillan Mighty Hike medal”.

“I'd already done the Northumberland Mighty Hike the year before just after Ant died and had my heart set on doing the one in Northern Ireland for him.”

"I'm a very lucky woman and I feel privileged to have been able to do this for Macmillan in thanks for all the support and love they showed to Ant.”