A YOUNG woman is taking on the challenge of a lifetime to raise cash and awareness of cervical cancer charity Jo’s Trust.

Vikki Willis, from Odiham, who is currently working in Sydney, holds the charity very close to her heart, having had its support when she underwent surgery in January last year, and the inspirational 27 year old now wants to raise awareness about the dangers of not getting regular health checks.

“Yes, it can seem embarrassing but getting a smear test takes five minutes and it is so important," she said.

“My result told me I will always be at a higher risk of cervical cancer, but because of that I know now to go every year (rather than every three years). Without that knowledge I could have been having a very different conversation with my doctor three years down the line.

“Jo’s Trust is incredible because of the support it offers at all stages of the journey.”

The challenge will involve Vikki and her friend, Lucie, fundraising for the RIOBP, cycling 1,550 miles from the north of New Zealand to the south, complete with their bikes and their tents.

Currently 10 days into their epic challenge, Vikki has said despite the months and months of training you can never prepare for the emotional and physical toll of such a task.

“You find yourself experiencing every emotion within in a day," she said.

“There are the moments most days when we question why we are doing this, normally when the alarm goes off at 5am. It’s still dark outside, the tent is damp and we have to drag ourselves up and out. But once we are on the road there are also the moments of genuine enjoyment. Seeing New Zealand by bike is awesome.”

On the physical element of the trek, Vikki added: “I don’t think anything could prepare us for carrying a quarter of our body weight on the back of the bikes day after day.

“As we both work full time our training had been limited to two days in a row over a weekend so we were worried about how our bodies would react to doing seven days plus with no rest, but the body is an amazing thing and has a way of coping.

“At first we thought it was about getting there as quickly as possible but you soon start to flag. It’s a case of slow and steady wins in the long run.”

When Vikki was transferred to Sydney for work in November, serious doubt was cast about whether the challenge should go ahead, with her training partner back in the UK. But they both knew there was no going back, and having Lucie there has made things easier and more enjoyable.

“Having Lucie here while riding has made things easier than they perhaps would have been. We tend to know how the other one is feeling," said Vikki.

“If one of us is struggling it’s great to have someone there to help pick you up. Sometimes it’s as simple as slowing down and riding alongside one another to help try to keep our minds busy.”

The reason for the challenge is, of course, to raise funds for Jo’s Trust and raise awareness of cervical cancer, and for Vikki it’s about giving people the courage to face up to the 17th most common cause of cancer death among women.

“It would all be worth it if just one girl went and got checked, or one guy asked their wife or sister or girlfriend. The response (after surgery) was amazing and so many people messaged me to say they had booked in after ignoring their reminder letters.”

And the reason for choosing New Zealand as her destination was made soon after she came round from surgery.

“The surgeon told me once I had come round that the reason he wanted to operate so quickly was because I shared the same symptoms as a girl my age who he had diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer just a few days before. I cannot imagine what that poor girl and her family went though," she said.

“It was that moment that I knew it had to be a big challenge. It was a case of ’what country could I feasibly cycle the length of and still have a job to come back to’. New Zealand seemed to fit that bill.”

The original fundraising target was £5,000, but that was blown away in no time and that figure is now up to £8,000, and with the challenge approaching the halfway point, they are well on course to break through their latest target.

To donate, visit bit.ly/twelvedegrees.

For anyone with concerns of their own about cervical cancer, visit jostrust.org.uk.