Mother of three, Liz Williams from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, would never have dreamed of doing a 24-hour adventure challenge a few years ago, but that was before her little girl Grace, now six, was diagnosed with leukaemia.

Liz has entered the 24seven Challenge event, which is set to take place for the first time this autumn in the Forest of Dean on 11th and 12th October.  The event will raise money for the UK's leading children's cancer charity, CLIC Sargent, which supported Grace, Liz and the rest of their family when the unimaginable happened.

Grace was just two years old when she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.  After feeling a little unwell one weekend and having some unexplained bruises on her legs, Liz took Grace to the doctors. Within 24 hours she had had two blood transfusions and countless tests, which came to the unfortunate conclusion that she has leukaemia. 

Grace was referred to Gloucester Royal Hospital for treatment.  Liz said, “Grace started her first course of chemotherapy the following Monday and this became our normal life for the next 2 ½ years.  Luckily Grace responded well to the chemo and didn't suffer many side effects.  She only stayed in when she caught some secondary infections. She was a fit and robust little girl before the leukaemia and so we were lucky she coped well with the treatment.

“Throughout Grace's treatment we were supported by a CLIC Sargent nurse based at the hospital who was fantastic from the word go.  When we were given Grace's diagnosis and were in hospital there were questions we needed answering, and not necessarily medical ones and she was always there for us along with the CLIC Sargent social worker.

“They help you focus on all the areas of your life that have changed with the diagnosis. The financial impact is massive with extra money needed for travelling, parking, accommodation, specialist equipment, not to mention the fact that very often one parent has to have time off work or gives up paid work like I did. The CLIC Sargent team help with all the application forms and departments that you need to sort out at a time when you can only really think about your child.

“Grace loves her CLIC Sargent nurse, Jane, to bits and will still happily talk to her when we go along to CLIC Sargent fundraising events or visit the hospital – she really trusts her, which considering some of the painful procedures Jane has helped her with is just amazing.  Although Grace is reluctant to talk about what happened to her sometimes she will open up to Jane and that is a real comfort to us.”

Liz was keen to give something back to CLIC Sargent and was intrigued by the 24seven advert she spotted in a magazine.  24seven is a new adventure challenge which tests both the body and the mind.  Comprising seven different mental and physical challenges to be completed over 24 hours, it is a test of physical endurance and mental dexterity.  Participants, who can compete as individuals or in teams of three, will be asked to cover a marathon distance (26.2 miles) on foot, bike and using a canoe.  Along the way mental tasks such as problem solving and navigation will keep them on their toes.

Liz said, “I haven't done anything like this before and I'm not your typical adrenalin junkie – I'd rather have a coffee actually! But it sounded like such a unique event and with the mental agility aspect too I thought it would be a great combined challenge.  I didn't sign up to the event with the goal of winning, I just want to complete 24seven and raise as much money as I can to help other children and young people with cancer and leukaemia, and their families. 

“My training is going well at the moment and my local gym LA Fitness has offered me free training to help me get to where I need to be to complete the challenge.  I really don't like cycling so it's been hard to get on my bike.  I've decided that after the event I'll raffle off my mountain bike for CLIC Sargent. So sponsor me it might be a bargain!”

Since Grace has been ill Liz also got involved with a group of parents across the south west called the Hub. They lobby and work with the NHS to improve and ensure the quality of paediatric oncology service across the region. The website (www.swcancerhub.org) acts as an information source, addressing some of the questions that parents find themselves asking when their child is diagnosed with cancer.

Liz has also started a parent support group in Gloucestershire that meets occasionally for coffee but mainly keeps in touch by email. She said, “CLIC Sargent has supported both of these groups financially and with lots of moral support and encouragement and I am going to take this chance with the 24Seven event to support them because I've seen that sometimes life really is too short.”

Grace finished chemotherapy on 11th September 2006 and is making a remarkable recovery.