The Commanding Officer of HMS Raleigh has walked 25 miles across the Brecon Beacons to raise money for Cancer Research UK in memory of her mother.
Captain (Capt) Ellie Ablett took part in an inaugural Race for Life Hike in support of the charity.
Her mother, Judith Hall, passed away 15 years ago, after initially beating breast cancer, the illness returned to affect her liver.
The route of the hike included climbing Pen y Fan, the highest peak in South Wales, which stands at 886 metres above sea-level and the slightly smaller mountain, Cribyn, which has an elevation of 795 metres.
Capt Ablett took part in the walk with two other women, her sister and a school friend, who had also lost her mother to cancer, and they completed the distance in 11 hours and 24 minutes.
To increase her fundraising she challenged staff at HMS Raleigh to guess how long it would take her to complete the hike and has so far raised over £550.
Capt Ablett said: “Cancer continues to touch everyone’s lives, which is why I decided to take part in this event.
“I still feel my mother’s absence keenly and have supported this charity ever since her first diagnosis.
“The hike itself was extraordinarily challenging, not least because of the high temperatures and the very real risk of heat illness, as well as varying levels of fitness among the team and recurring old injuries.
“We were determined to complete the 25 mile trek together and felt a real sense of achievement, and relief, as we crossed the finish line.”
Anyone wishing to support Capt Ablett can do so online by logging on to:
https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/eleanors-race-for-life-215
