SWINDON CANCER APPEAL: Trekking 100 kilometres across frozen Icelandic terrain may not be everyone's idea of a fun week, but one group of fundraisers is determined to complete and enjoy it as a Macmillan Challenge in July.

John Hughes, 47, says he will be thinking of his father-in-law, Ted Lewis, who died of cancer last year, aged 76.

John, a revenue billing manager for Bracknell Forest Borough Council in Berkshire, said: "My wife Wendy's father is my whole inspiration behind wanting to complete this challenge.

"I felt that I wanted to give something back to the Macmillan charity for the support they had given our family during Ted's last months.

"We were actively involved in his care when he became ill and saw first hand the excellent work that the Macmillan Nurses do.

"They are totally dedicated in providing support to both the person who is terminally ill and their family. I don't know how we would have got through the distressing time without them."

John, who plans to raise £2,000, added: "Wendy and I used to do sponsored walks for various charities in the past but nothing on this scale.

"I'm nervous but looking forward to the challenge. If all goes well, we will probably do another challenge sometime in the future."

Sally Dean, who works in marketing and customer communications at Zurich Financial Services, has been walking to work as part of her training.

Sally, 44, of Stratton, said: "I've been training fairly hard but I think I need to do more in the next couple of months.

"I did part of the 26-mile Beat the Bounds walk on Bank Holiday Monday around Ramsbury. I didn't complete it all but managed 20 miles.

"My mum died from cancer five years ago, aged 67. She died quite quickly after being diagnosed but in the short time she was ill, the Macmillan nurses were a fantastic help not only to her but to the family as well.

"I'm a bit nervous, particularly about coping with the camping and lack of washing and toilet facilities!"

Fellow participants include Arva PHH Management Services staff. The Arva group includes Pippa Malone, head of customer services, Danny Clenaghan, managing director for fuel and business mobility and Louise Dickinson, managing director for the Major Customers Division.

The trek starts on July 19.

Other overseas Macmillan events include the New York City Marathon on November 2 and the Mexico Coast to Coast Cycling Challenge from February 28 to March 11 next year.

To find out about these and other events, call appeal manager Graziella Campisano on Swindon 601636.

To make a donation to the appeal online, click here.

Tell us about your fundraising event, click here.