More than 50 people from across the UK aged from 11 to 78 - including eight with stage 4 EGFR positive lung cancer - will join Leeds mum Natasha Loveridge on Saturday (23 September) to trek up Scafell Pike to boost awareness of non-smoking lung cancer and raise funds to support patients affected by it.
Natasha, a primary school teacher from Guiseley, was diagnosed with lung cancer in December 2022 and, shortly afterwards, was told that it was incurable.
She has since devoted her time to increasing knowledge of the EGFR positive mutation - most often found in non-smoking young women such as Natasha - and to raise money for charities devoted to combatting the disease.
All funds received from Saturday’s walk to the top of England’s highest peak will go to EGFR Positive UK, of which Natasha recently became a trustee, and the Roy Castle Foundation
Alongside her family and friends, she will be joined in taking on the challenge by supporters travelling from places as far apart as Scotland and Devon, with numbers growing all the time.
Several participants will also lay decorated pebbles along the route to remember loved ones lost to EGFR positive lung cancer.
Natasha Loveridge (second from right) with family and friends who will be joining her on the trek up Scafell Pike, supported by team mascot Olive the Dog
Natasha said: “I am amazed by the backing we have received, with more than £4,000 already raised for the two charities.
“I hope people will continue to help by visiting my JustGiving page and making a donation if they can.
“However, raising awareness of non-smoking lung cancer and encouraging people to see their doctor if they feel they may have early symptoms – I had a squeakiness in my chest and a strange cough - is the other critically important reason we are doing this.
“I am proud that eight of us with stage 4 EGFR positive lung cancer will be there on Saturday, determined to do our very best to get to the top.”
As well as supporting Natasha by logging on to JustGiving and entering Natasha Loveridge, you can follow her story on Instagram at tasha.vs.thebigc