All three women have been training for weeks, taking on the road to Hassans Walls in preparation for what is a grueling feat stretched over the course of a few days.
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The group has been fundraising for the past year, having raised more than $8000 for Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) and recently donated around $1000 to Lithgow Palliative Care, as well as $1700 to Lithgow Cancer Support.
Their walk is part of BCNA’s Steps for Support Great Wall of China Challenge taking place from October 20 to 30.
According to BCNA, 42 women in Australia will be told they have breast cancer on any one day.
Breast cancer, through a number of ways, has affected their lives and the passing of Jodie’s mother, Cheryl, 12 months ago due to the illness spurred the group into action.
“Jodie’s mother was part of our breast cancer support group, she helped us with lots of our fundraising,” Ms Mitchell said.
“I’ve also lost two other friends recently so there’s three women I’m doing it for.”
Ms Rayner said the statistics for women getting breast cancer were still shocking.
“October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and the statistics are so high. It’s the highest cancer among women,” she said.
Ms Mitchell is now a community liaison officer for BCNA after her experience with breast cancer, and said the network has given her courage and strength.
“I give as much information to anyone I can,” she said.
“People are shocked, they say, ‘Can I really do that? You confirm with them that it’s normal, however they’re feeling is perfectly normal… it’s a unique experience to each individual.”
Contributions to their fundraising efforts are still welcome, and donations can be made at their gofundraise page at http://bit.ly/2etWNse
The group would like to thank all their generous sponsors and anyone who donated.
