Hot Dry & Barren - My Sahara Trek
Kat Coldham
My Story
Hot, Dry & Barren
In October this year, I will be undertaking a 5 day trek in the Sahara Desert to raise money for The Eve Appeal – the leading charity for gynaecological cancers.
This is a cause close to my heart, because of my own personal journey last year. I was lucky – my condition was caught early and acted on with urgency. Whilst the initial tests in July indicated a borderline risk for endometrial cancer, which the specialist believed could be held at bay with hormone treatment, the subsequent biopsy in August showed atypical cells already present, resulting in my oncology team advocating a full hysterectomy (removal of uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes and cervix). I later learned that there was a 40% risk of cancer being present in the other reproductive organs beyond my uterus which is what led to the surgeon’s radical recommendations.
My surgery was in October 2025, with me receiving shortly afterwards the news everyone wants to hear that I am ‘all clear’. This trek, around the 1st anniversary of my surgery, is in part a celebration of my good health and in part gratitude that my treatment was successful.
And with my full hysterectomy leading to immediate surgical menopause, I felt a trip to the Sahara was even more appropriate – after all, now it’s not just the desert that is hot, dry and barren, I am too!
The Eve Appeal
60 women per day are diagnosed with gynaecological cancer (22,000 per year!) and around 21 will die each day from that diagnosis. Uterine cancer is the 4th most common cancer in women, with ovarian cancer in 6th place. Although regular screening is offered for cervical cancer, detection of all gynaecological cancers is often achieved too late because early symptoms are potentially absent, mild or misleading.
The Eve Appeal is there to ensure more people with gynaecological risks and cancer diagnosis are just as lucky as I was. Through education, research, advice and support, The Eve Appeal aims are “to prevent gynae cancers from developing in the first place, but if they do develop, we want to make sure they’re detected early so more people survive their diagnosis.”
I am asking for support for this very worthy cause. I have survived and thrived. And with your donation we can help other women have the same great outcome.
Thank you.
Kat x
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Target
£2,300
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Raised so far
£1,960
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Number of donors
39
My Story
Hot, Dry & Barren
In October this year, I will be undertaking a 5 day trek in the Sahara Desert to raise money for The Eve Appeal – the leading charity for gynaecological cancers.
This is a cause close to my heart, because of my own personal journey last year. I was lucky – my condition was caught early and acted on with urgency. Whilst the initial tests in July indicated a borderline risk for endometrial cancer, which the specialist believed could be held at bay with hormone treatment, the subsequent biopsy in August showed atypical cells already present, resulting in my oncology team advocating a full hysterectomy (removal of uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes and cervix). I later learned that there was a 40% risk of cancer being present in the other reproductive organs beyond my uterus which is what led to the surgeon’s radical recommendations.
My surgery was in October 2025, with me receiving shortly afterwards the news everyone wants to hear that I am ‘all clear’. This trek, around the 1st anniversary of my surgery, is in part a celebration of my good health and in part gratitude that my treatment was successful.
And with my full hysterectomy leading to immediate surgical menopause, I felt a trip to the Sahara was even more appropriate – after all, now it’s not just the desert that is hot, dry and barren, I am too!
The Eve Appeal
60 women per day are diagnosed with gynaecological cancer (22,000 per year!) and around 21 will die each day from that diagnosis. Uterine cancer is the 4th most common cancer in women, with ovarian cancer in 6th place. Although regular screening is offered for cervical cancer, detection of all gynaecological cancers is often achieved too late because early symptoms are potentially absent, mild or misleading.
The Eve Appeal is there to ensure more people with gynaecological risks and cancer diagnosis are just as lucky as I was. Through education, research, advice and support, The Eve Appeal aims are “to prevent gynae cancers from developing in the first place, but if they do develop, we want to make sure they’re detected early so more people survive their diagnosis.”
I am asking for support for this very worthy cause. I have survived and thrived. And with your donation we can help other women have the same great outcome.
Thank you.
Kat x
