Blackheath woman embarks on a year of challenges in tribute to dad and uncle

To mark her 50th birthday, a woman has set herself a year of 50 physical fundraising challenges in tribute to her father and uncle who were both diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Heather Lawson, from Blackheath, pictured above, turned 50 in September last year and started her 50 at 50 campaign.

She has already completed 18 challenges, including ultra walks, half marathons and fire walking – and has more than 20 more planned, including 24 hours on a treadmill, an abseil and a world record attempt on an indoor training bicycle.

Heather said of her epic year: “Sometimes in life you just get to that ‘why not’ moment, and for me that was in the spring of 2019 when my uncle’s six-month course of chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer failed to halt the disease and he was given a terminal diagnosis.

“I had already lost my father to this disease in 2006, so my uncle’s prognosis was doubly devastating.

“I decided I had to do my bit to help fund more research into this cruel disease.

“The scale of what I’d committed to doing hit me rather late in the day, when I realised that there are only 52 weeks in the year.

“As some bigger physical challenges will involve a bit of recovery time, I’m mixing in other simpler – or weird – suggestions from friends and work colleagues.

“For example, I’m cutting out shop-bought coffee this year and putting the money saved into the fundraising total, and a friend has promised to donate if I wear a pink flamingo rubber ring for an entire day – that will make work and travel rather interesting.”

This year includes two of her biggest challenges. On February 28 Heather will attempt a sub-Arctic marathon, a gruelling ski trek completed over two days on trails in the Abisko National Park in Sweden.

As one of a group of only 20 people, Heather will carry all her own equipment and supplies, sleeping overnight in a mountain hut and, once finished, will return to the airport by husky sledge.

“This will be one of the toughest challenges, but I hope it will also be the trip of a lifetime,” said Heather.

“I’ll ride on a husky sledge, I may see the Northern Lights – plus before travelling home, we also stay in an ice hotel that’s rebuilt fresh every year and sleep on an ice bed.“

In total, Heather hopes to raise £5,000 for Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund.

If you would like to donate to Heather’s fundraising, you can do so here.