Deborah - Conquering Nepal

I took part in the Mardi Himal Trek in Nepal in April 2023.

We were an all women group of 9. I knew all but one person before going on the trek (although I had met the person I didn’t know before we left). I knew the others to varying degrees. They included one of my closest friends who I had known most of my life, and others I had met more recently.

I took part in the trek to raise money for Maggies, which is a cancer charity very close to my heart. My husband was diagnosed with a form of leukaemia just before we got married in 2018. It was a huge shock, and worry, and was the first time that we visited Maggies. They were a massive support to us at that time. Not long after that, in April 2019, I was diagnosed with bi-lateral breast cancer. I went through a year of treatment: chemotherapy, two lots of surgery and radiotherapy. It was very hard both emotionally and physically. I have always been an active person, but I went from being a very fit person who cycled, trained in karate (I am a black belt), to someone who at times struggled to walk from my gate to the door of my house.

Maggies were again a huge support to my family and I, both during my treatment and after it. After my treatment I wanted to do “something big” to give something back and raise money for Maggies. When the opportunity to do a trek with Tribal Tracks came up, I knew this was what I wanted to do!! I knew it would be very challenging physically and, for me, there was also an element of this being the final stage in my cancer journey: getting some of my fitness back, some of “me” back, which the cancer had taken and showing it hadn’t broken me.

I honestly don’t have the words to describe the experience of the trek. “Amazing” just doesn’t seem to do it justice. It was an experience of a lifetime which will stay with me always. If I am blessed to be here long enough to see my grandchildren, I know it is something I will tell them about, and encourage them to do something like it.

I expected the summit day to be the best part of the trip, and although that was incredible it really was the journey which was the best bit. I loved every minute of the whole experience and especially the companionship of my fellow trekkers.

The Trek was physically challenging, but manageable. The most challenging part for me was the first day of the trek where it was very hot, we had a lot of steps to climb and I was feeling really unwell, and was even sick a few times. That day was hard, and it was hard to muster the determination to keep going when my body was screaming at me to stop. However, one of my friends, and one of the sherpas, were so supportive and stayed with me and help keep me going. Making it to the final stop that day was such a relief! Luckily, I felt better the next day and from there I felt able to face any challenges thrown at me: nothing could be as bad as that first day!!