In late 2018 I walked up the coast of Portugal into Santiago de Compostela, a day of rain, wind and very cold. A walk that was chosen and booked after a glass of red wine, not one of my best decisions but glad I made it. The walk was easy and plenty of signage which was great as my body just needed to walk and my brain and head to tag along. No worries of home as the previous year had been exhausting and draining, something I had not realised until a few days into the walk. I returned to life in North Queensland and continued the regular flights home to Brisbane. I slipped back comfortably into my old routine.

It was only weeks later that I decided on another long walk for Cancer Queensland. Where should I go? I kept googling the Via Francigena, the walk from Canterbury to Rome, the walk that I had started in 2017. Why not pick it up in Besancon where I had finished? I would have to chose my season as this walk was to be in Switzerland. Next email to my walking companion and sister - "want to walk across Switzerland with me?" My answer in 5 minutes and so the planning started.

I knew this walk would need to be planned so we contacted a friend who organised these tours so in 12 weeks Sue and I will walk for 4 weeks starting in Besancon in France and finishing at the Italian border. Planning was going well. The company would sort the beds and only a day pack to carry each day. After shoulder surgery 4 months ago carrying a full and heavy pack was not part of the plan.

In the blink of an eye life can change and this change was not expected, a bolt out of the blue. I walk for cancer in honour of my brothers who have had cancer and other family and friends who also live with the disease. I have never smoked, eat well, walk, get rest and generally  feel great. Cancer was never a thought in my head but how wrong could I be. This hideous disease called Cancer or the Big C does not care whom it chooses or which part of the body it invades and goes to bed with. It stikes when you least expect it and there is no way of it going away without surgery, chemo or radiation of some sort.

Two weeks ago after a routine chest CT for a chest infection and cough some suspicious growths showed up in the scan in my thyroid. Where is my thyroid I asked and still thought "so what, a course of antibiotics will fix that". The local doctor gave me follow up paperwork for blood tests and ultrasounds, which I nearly did not proceed with. A little voice within me gave me a sharp jab and said "do it, the doctor knows better". The next thing I knew I was having a biopsy and a flight to Brisbane and a specialist visit/s had been organised. I was not in control and I hated it. I was either in tears or cursing the world. This thing called cancer had got it claws into me  and I am determined I will beat it. This past week has been a series of tests, scans, specialist appointments and then some more, prepping me for surgery in a few days. Surgery does not worry me but the unknown does. It scares the pants off me. I pray it is just in the one spot which can be removed with a surgeons knife but will know next week if my wish has come true. Doctors tell me it is a good cancer to have -  as if any cancer is good but I know place myself in their hands.

This news is just a hiccup. I will walk with Sue in 12 weeks, I will walk in Scotland and England in 2020 and Italy in 2021, I will see my 3 little grandchildren grow up, leave school and get married. I will nurse my great grandchildren, I will see my 3 sons grow to receive an aged pension and I definitely will celebrate many more wedding anniversaries with my husband. This "thing" will not beat me.

Sue and I have promised to raise $1000 for Cancer Queensland and we will with the help of great friends and family. I will leave the cancer link at the bottom of the blog.

Https://give.everydayhero.com/au/walking-the-via-francigena -to-italy