Newbury mother and daughter's gruelling challenges for charity

Natalie Gower, aged 21, and her mum Sue Gower, 50, who live in Dolman Road, Shaw, will first take part in a 26-mile ‘Trekathon’ from Stonehenge to Avebury on September 27, a challenge which takes in the high chalk downs and the ridgeways of Wiltshire and Salisbury.
The pair will then have four weeks to recover before participating in ‘Tough Mudder’ on October 25, which is renowned for being one of the toughest physical events in the country.
Created by the British Special Forces, Tough Mudder is a 10-12 mile obstacle course designed to test all-around strength, stamina, teamwork and mental grit.
The courses vary, but they usually all include the notorious ‘Arctic Enema’, where participants jump into a dumpster filled with ice water, and ‘Everest’ where participants run up a quarter pipe coated with mud.
They are taking part in the two events to raise money in memory of Natalie’s nan and Sue’s mum, June, who lost her battle with cancer in September 2012.
Mother and daughter are hoping to raise at least £800 from the Trekathon which will go to The Eve Appeal, a charity which funds ground-breaking research into the five gynaecological cancers and focuses on developing effective methods of prediction, detection, treatment and improved care.
The pair are also hoping to raise a further £500 for Cancer Research UK from the Tough Mudder challenge.
Speaking to the Newbury Weekly News, Natalie said: “Nan was really caring and outgoing and would do anything for anybody and we wanted to do something in her memory.
“We don’t want hers – and other womens’ battles – to go unnoticed. We saw the struggle she went through and don’t want others to go through the same.
“I have never done anything like this before, but we’ve been training hard and I’m determined to keep going for nan.”
To sponsor Natalie and Sue, visit their fundraising page at justgiving.com/Sue-Nat-Gower