The snow and ice may have caused quite a few problems recently but it hasn’t stopped two fitness fanatics from Lanyon Bowdler getting out there and training in their bid to raise money for charity.  

Barbara Dartnall, a Legal Assistant in the private client department based at the firm’s Ludlow office will be taking part in the ‘Walk the Walk’ London Moonwalk for breast cancer in May 2011.  Barbara, whose sister in law originally threw down the gauntlet and challenged her to join the walk, has never been involved in an event such as this before, however she is committed to fundraising for a cause which has close personal links for her due to her family history.

Barbara is of Ashkenazi Jewish race, whom are susceptible to breast cancer, particularly in the men, and ovarian cancer in the women.  Barbara comments “A few members of my family had breast cancer in the past, with one aunt sadly passing away as a result of the disease. My father also suffered from it.  Apparently breast cancer is passed down from Jewish father to daughter, rather than Jewish mother to daughter, and therefore this is a cause very close to my heart.”

Barbara has now started her training in earnest having joined her local gym and also swimming regularly.  She takes regular walks in the countryside near her home accompanied by her two loyal border collie dogs!

Ruth Espley, a secretary in the personal injury department based at the firm’s Shrewsbury office, has taken on the mammoth challenge of cycling 400km over 5 days across the Rift Valley, in Kenya.  Ruth will be raising funds for Breast Cancer Care, Jo’s Trust (Cervical Cancer) and Ovarian Cancer Action. 

It all started for Ruth with an advert in a magazine – a page jumped out at her with its burnt orange Kenyan sunset background, and silhouetted elephants walking trunk to tail.  Ruth says “I took one look at the advert and the words ‘Be Part of the First Women V Cancer Cycle Ride Raising Funds to Fight Breast, Cervical and Ovarian Cancer’ and I was hooked!”

Ruth will be among a group of 80 ladies from all over the country, and the most challenging part of her training is that she has not been on a bicycle since she was about twelve - so effectively has had to start from scratch! 

Both Barbara and Ruth will be writing regular blogs to update on their progress which can be found at http://blog.lblaw.co.uk.  They also have their own individual sponsorship pages at http://www.walkthewalkfundraising.org/barbara_dartnall and http://www.justgiving.com/Ruth-Espley.