On Saturday morning at 8am 10 members of the Abracs team set off on a challenge that would take them around the Lake District for a total of 100km. The route was a 100km anticlockwise loop split across 2 days. Starting in Kendal the first 11km was fairly straight forward, country roads and fields with relatively low elevation and after a couple of hours we were soon at rest stop one. Little did we know what was to come.

As temperatures soared we took on the 2nd and longest leg of the journey an 18km trek consisting of two gruelling hills not for the faint hearted, the 360º panoramic views did go some way to making up for this, however reflecting back it was a unanimous opinion that this was the toughest part of the challenge, a long slow decline down a rocky footpath finished the leg as we arrived a the lunch stop.

The second half of day 1 is when the aches and pains really starting to set in, ankles & knees starting to hurt and for some blisters started to develop, however the team powered through to finish before the darkness arrived with the last couple of team members crossing the line around 9:30pm over 13 hours since we’d first left Kendal. A hot meal and we were off to bed, as the wake up call was 5am for a 6am start on day 2.

As the team awoke the aches and pains had certainly set in and a slightly sluggish first 11km ensued, into the we did start to get going as the stiff muscles loosened up, but as time went by the joints started to ache and many of the team were making visits to the medic tent to get their ankles and knees K-taped to power through to the end. As we stopped for lunch we knew we were just 21km from the finish line, pizza, chips and the welcome news of an England win the euros opener gave us some energy and encouragement for us to power through to the finish line with all the team back by 8:30pm and enjoying a celebratory beer and BBQ.

Although tough it was undoubtedly a fantastic experience really well planned by the Ultra Challenges team with excellent support throughout, some incredible views and a great team building exercise, but of course we also did this for Myeloma UK. Myeloma also known as multiple myeloma, is a blood cancer arising from plasma cells. At any one time there are around 24,000 people living with myeloma in the UK. It accounts for 15 per cent of blood cancers, and two per cent of all cancers. Myeloma mainly affects those over the age of 65, however it has been diagnosed in people much younger. Myeloma UK is the only organisation in the UK dealing exclusively with myeloma. Their ultimate goal is to find a cure. They are dedicated purely to myeloma patients - making sure they get access to the right treatment at the right time. The continually strive to improve standards of treatment and care through research, education and raising awareness of myeloma.

If you would like to donate to our chosen charity please follow the link - www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Abracs-Ltd-Lakes