Wow! I knew I was in for an experience and challenge of a lifetime when I went to Romania but I seriously underestimated both.
I was warned about a ‘come down’ when returning to everyday life, and I’ve certainly experienced that. After the euphoria of seeing my wife and daughter again I could feel the mundane creeping back into life just 24 hours later. I have dubbed today ‘Mundane Monday’.
However, I also feel I am carrying around a renewed sense of confidence, accomplishment, and an energy to tackle life with a new perspective.
Like all of these kind of things I suppose, I find myself telling people about what I saw and did and never quite feel I’m doing the experience justice with my words. And really, that’s normal, because the only people who will ever fully appreciate the physical and mental mountains we conquered over four days in a strange but wonderful country are the people who shared the experience with me; my fellow trekkers. And I’m totally okay with that.
You automatically assume everyone is there because of an experience with breast cancer, but there’s a plethora of reasons why people were there in Transylvania. Of course breast cancer and other cancers are a big factor, but there are those fighting and overcoming personal internal battles with mental health and anxiety, some who’ve just had a shitty few years and want to put things behind them, some who just wanted to step outside of their comfort zones – be it socially, physically or mentally, and some who simply fancied the experience of a lifetime.
I’ve met some truly wonderful strangers who I can now call friends…
A friend who shared her mobile phone data and charging capabilities throughout
Friends who shared their very personal stories for being there
Friends who shared their sense of humour and genuinely made me belly laugh out loud every day
Friends who carried the load when others could not
Friends who offered words of advice
Friends who offered words of encouragement and support
Friends who took pictures and videos galore (plenty of which I have stolen)
Friends who shared water when others had none
Friends who may become clients
Friends who cooked and served up our meals
Friends who bought (alcoholic) drinks
Friends who slept beside me and shared and experienced the worst the human body has to offer (and not just from our tent!)
Friends who shared with me their passions (including those who get turned on by a semicolon)
Celebrities who gave the impression they were anything but celebrities… real people who were down to earth, humble, supportive and genuinely interested in people’s stories
Friends who burst out into song, be it singing Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ or playing rewritten versions of McFly classics on a ukulele
Friends who carried video equipment up a mountain to capture the experience for all of us to look back on
Friends who I didn’t speak to as much as I’d have liked, but who I consider friends regardless
A friend who offered me a lift almost the length of the country when I missed my return flight
Friends who offered me a bed for the night when I missed my flight
Friends who knew when I wanted to talk and when I just wanted to be left alone with my thoughts
Friends who briefed us every morning, de-briefed us every night and generally kept us safe
A friend who was medically trained, patched us up and sent us back out so we could complete the challenge
Friends who knew the hills like the back of their hand and showed us exactly where to tread
Friends who I would do it all again with in a heartbeat
Thanks to everyone who sponsored/donated before, during and after the trek. You can still donate here but right now all I want you to do is promise me that if you get the chance to do one of these treks with Coppafeel! and Fabulous you to take that chance.
I’ve quickly put together a short slideshow of our experience. It will be nothing compared to what the talented Tom Fletcher and David Spearing will be putting together but here it is…
