Walkers complete 60KM London walk to raise £4M for breast cancer
 The Aviva Weekend to Breakthrough Breast Cancer 60km, London - 16/17th September
Battling aching feet, blisters and fatigue, over 1550 walkers in The Aviva Weekend to Breakthrough Breast Cancer are now on the home stretch of the 60 km hike around the streets and parks of London, raising £4 million for Breakthrough Breast Cancer in the process.
 Setting off from Greenwich Park early on the Saturday morning, thousands of women and men including Heart 106.2 DJ Emma B, singer Lucie Silvas and Richard Harvey, Group Chief Executive of title sponsor Aviva, began their weekend walking adventure, which has taken them past many of London’s iconic landmarks including St Paul’s Cathedral, Canary Wharf and Tower Bridge.
 Various celebrities have dropped by during the course of the weekend including fitness fanatic Lady Isabella Harvey who got the walkers warmed up with an exercise session and Big Brother 7 finalist Richard Newman, who pitched some of the hot pink tents at the campsite. Spending last night in pink tents in Finsbury Park, walkers set off this morning for the final leg of the hike, which will climax in Greenwich Park at 4:30 pm today. Friends and family will be there to cheer the thousands of walkers to the finish.
 Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive of Breakthrough Breast Cancer, says: “Whether they’ve taken part to honour someone they’ve lost to breast cancer or celebrate the living, what has united all our participants this weekend is the desire to make a difference in the fight against breast cancer. I’ve been inspired by their courage, strength, positivity and determination. These funds will have an enormous impact on our breast cancer research, campaigning and education work and will take us one step closer to achieving our vision of a future free from the fear of breast cancer.”
Richard Harvey, Chief Executive of Aviva, title sponsor of this year’s event, says: “The Aviva Weekend to Breakthrough Breast Cancer is such a powerful event. The 1550 women and men who will complete their journey this weekend are sending out a positive and inspirational message of support to all those whose lives are affected by breast cancer. I am proud to have joined them.”
For media enquiries about The Aviva Weekend to Breakthrough Breast Cancer contact the Breakthrough press office on 07778 682 001 or email press@breakthrough.org.uk
Interviews with the following people are available on request:
Jeremy Hughes, Breakthrough Breast Cancer
Richard Harvey, Aviva plc
Weekend Walkers Breakthrough supporters who have a breast cancer experience to share
Emma B, Heart 106.2 DJ
Lucie Silvas, Singer
Proving that accountants CAN do some things for nothing! by Finola McManus of Landers the Accountants
"Accountants are often perceived as not contributing
much to the greater good without a fee being involved!"
I wanted to break the mould and do something for others which involved a bit of sacrifice on my part. I do not exercise regularly and complain about not having enough time to juggle work and family commitments, so to commit to a 40 mile walk was no mean feat for me and a daunting prospect. Over the summer training walks were fitted in at 6am in the morning before the family woke up and the school run beckoned.
The weekend itself was torture! Nothing had prepared me for the physical and emotional rollercoaster. After day 1, a 4.30am start and 23 miles I was in tears with cramped legs unable to crawl into a cold damp tent for the night in Finsbury Park. I have no idea what got me going again on Sunday at 5am other than the thought of not letting people down and a pure 'mind over matter' attitude.
My husband Simon and the boys came up on Sunday to cheer me on and I crossed the finish line holding Luke and Thomas' hands. A very emotional experience and one I will never forget.
I am so pleased I was part of the 1500 team that walked-many were cancer survivors or those that had lost loved ones. Together we raised over £4million. Truly amazing. I am now focusing on learning how to walk straight again....
I drew from all those inspirational speakers I have heard and their theory worked. The lesson I have taken away is how can I harness that attitude and approach when working with clients and convince then that 'yes-anything is possible’ if you set your mind to it....in business as well as your personal life!
For me it was a once in a lifetime experience to be part of something special.
Accountants can be great people too!'’
Please vist my personal webspace to read more about the event and even Make a Donation, if you so wish.
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