Double trek made cancer survivor 'feel alive'

A woman in remission with leukaemia said finishing two gruelling challenges in a week made her feel "really alive".

Lesley Calder, from Bishop Stortford, Hertfordshire, climbed Ben Nevis and walked the Highlands Coast to Coast to raise funds for blood cancer charity, DKMS.

The 59-year-old received a lifesaving stem cell transplant from her sister in 2019 and said she was keen to challenge herself again after completing a similar trek before she became ill.

"[Back] then I felt fit and well, it wasn't a struggle in anyway - this was a lot tougher, without a doubt the hardest physical challenge I've ever done," she said.

"It nearly killed me, but I did it."

Mrs Calder ascended 1345m (4,413ft) to the top of Ben Nevis on 30 May and two days later began the 120km (75-mile) Great Glen Way challenge with six friends, reaching journey's end on 6 June.

She said she "picked up where we left off" at the West Highland Way, which she completed 10 years ago, before being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia.

"I wanted to feel like I was pushing myself, I was extremely emotional and I'm not a hugely emotional person," she said.

"It sounds trite to say it, but I was pleased to be alive, it made me feel really alive."

DKMS spokesperson Anna Norman said Mrs Calder was "absolutely amazing".

"The fact that she was able take on a huge challenge like this shows how stem cell transplants can totally transform people's lives."

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