Hannah: “Let’s come together this March and celebrate the women who inspire and support us”

Many of us have had incredible women in our lives. Women who have always been there for us - mothers, sisters, daughters or friends.

We talked to Hannah, who sadly lost a female friend to cancer and works for Ovarian Cancer Action, about why it’s important to pay tribute to these special women we know.

This March, she’s invited her loved ones to join her for Walk in Her Name as a way of celebrating one another.

“You never know how long you may have with someone, so it’s really important to be present and make the most of the time you have with loved ones. Tell them how special they are to you.

My life would be nothing without my female friendships and the wider network of women who inspire and support me.

That’s why I’m taking part in Walk In Her Name 2024 - walking 100km in March, Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. I’m using it as an opportunity to arrange lots of walks with all the important women in my life.

I want to spend time with these special people and celebrate them while I can!

Walking is, for me, the very best way to spend time with a friend. Somehow it eases the conversation and you can talk for hours without realising it.

Sadly though, I won’t be able to walk with my very best walking companion, the close friend I lost to cancer just over a year ago. Although Jennie died from breast cancer, this has given me a huge insight into the devastation that cancer causes.

We used to walk together a lot so I’ll have her in mind, as I so often do throughout all my walks.

Amazingly, Jennie was able to benefit from the ground-breaking drug Olaparib (which is typically an ovarian cancer drug and is now available to more women with ovarian cancer than ever before, thanks to advancements in treatment). This gave her an extra and priceless year of life, and more special moments with her friends and family.

As I work for Ovarian Cancer Action, I know first-hand about the fantastic research we do and our plans to grow even more in the future, to make ovarian cancer a survivable disease for all women.

Taking part in Walk in Her Name is an amazing opportunity for a community passionate about ovarian cancer treatment and survival to come together, remembering and celebrating women who are battling the disease.

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I would encourage others to walk in celebration of the women they love and the women they’ve lost too – this is the bit that really resonates for me.” - Hannah

If you’re supporting someone living with cancer or going through a tough time, suggest going for a walk with them; it’ll be much easier to ask them how they are than sitting opposite them in a café.

If you’re grieving like me, walking is very calming – all you have to do is put one foot in front of the other. It’s easier to walk in silence than sit in silence, so it’s a great way of having company when you’re not sure what level of conversation you’re up to.

Can you think about asking a local network, such as other parents at your children’s school or a church group, to join you for a walk one morning?

Inviting someone or ideally a group of friends to walk with you is a great road into then asking for sponsorship.

I’m walking with my three best friends on separate dates, with my friend and work colleague at Ovarian Cancer Action, Genevieve. I’ll also be walking with my mum and my sister, with my local ‘mum’ friends and more lovely colleagues during our lunch break!

As a working mum, I have a busy schedule and it’s sometimes hard to prioritise spending time with friends and aligning our diaries, but Walk in Her Name has proved the perfect excuse. I’m planning lots of walks in advance to make sure that I make the time for walking.

I’m really excited about the challenge and am looking forward to getting outside and getting more exercise! Let’s hope March brings some sunshine and fewer storms!

I’ll also be making my children walk to and from school more (but I won’t be telling them that just yet!) I’ve also measured a lunchtime circuit which I’ll be planning to do at least twice a week to clock up those kilometres!”

For every mother, sister, daughter and friend. We Walk in Her Name.

Walk in Her Name is so much more than a challenge. It’s a community coming together, uniting for a world where every woman will survive ovarian cancer.

For you, for her, for every woman. Join us and walk 100km this March, in her name.

Read more inspiring stories from people taking part for their loved ones in the supportive Facebook community. Connect with other walkers and feel the support and energy as you collectively raise money for ovarian cancer research.