Beyond Cancer, Beyond The Unexpected: Tiffany & Karen’s Brave Adventures

Tiffany's Story

Every woman who joins a Women Outdoors event has a story to tell – or a reason she’s found herself at the top of a mountain with a group of women she met less than 24 hours ago.

Maybe the stress of work and life – the endless deadlines, housework, the pressure to do it all and be everything to everyone – was threatening to push her under.

Maybe she wanted to inspire – or even shock – her kids. Show them that she’s not just “Mum” doing mum things; she’s fierce, fearless, and awesome when she’s out there climbing mountains and chasing sunrises.

Or for others, they just woke up one morning, stared at the ceiling, and realized that this isn’t how they’d imagined their life to be. They’re suddenly craving something more. A challenge. An adventure.

For many people, myself included, it’s a big life event – a breakup, a loss, an illness, a career change that makes you re-evaluate things. Your normal life is flipped upside down, maybe just for a while or maybe forever, but it changes you. You find yourself seeing things a bit differently than before.

Whatever the reason, the outdoors becomes your place to breathe again. To figure things out. And when you’re standing in the middle of a forest, your boots covered in dirt, your lungs filled with fresh air, and your mind oddly quiet – you begin to remember how capable you are. That you’re stronger than you give yourself credit for.

You just need a bit of bravery to take the first step. And here’s the magic: the more you go outside, the more you want to. The fear lessens. The wonder grows and the person you become out there – grounded, unshaken, free – starts to show up in every part of your life. It’s honestly true.

I’m one of those women.

When my second child was born with additional needs, my life took a turn I hadn’t planned for. Leaving my job to become his full-time carer and taking on home-schooling was never in the picture. Being a SEN (Special Educational Needs) mum is rewarding in its own way, but it can also feel incredibly hard and isolating. My confidence and mental health took a hit for a while, and I had to figure out this new unexpected type of family life and how to make it work for all of us.

Finding myself, one adventure at a time

My trip to Norway with Women Outdoors was everything I wanted, needed and more. It was daunting, I won’t lie. Going on my own, without my twin sister by my side, was an added challenge. But once there I made friends, shared laughter, and created memories I’ll carry with me forever. I was the version of myself I’d forgotten was in there.

I did things I could never have imagined myself doing: crossing a wire bridge 150 metres above the ground, swimming in a freezing glacier river and screaming with excitement in a raft on the white water rapids. The turquoise rivers, waterfalls and beautiful scenes filled my days with adventure and joy. I’ve returned home with a spring in my step and a heart full of gratitude – already dreaming of my next adventure. And whilst my own journey gave me so much, there was someone else on the trip whose story inspired us all. With her blessing, I’d love to share it with you too.

Karen's Story

Karen wasn’t new to Women Outdoors; in summer of 2024, along with her daughter Niamh, she climbed Mount Snowdon and paddle boarded on Lake Padarn with the group. Emma, Women Outdoors’ Founder and Leader, led this trip and shared a memory with me. On Lake Padarn, she had taught the group the technique of how to get to a standing position on the boards and encouraged everyone to try it if they wanted. Whilst most laughed nervously, still feeling wobbly on their knees and obviously a little afraid of falling in the water – out of the corner of her eye she saw Karen. Without even a hint of hesitation, Karen enthusiastically made it to standing position. Emma said she knew at that moment that Karen possessed a special kind of determination.

It was during this trip that Karen was waiting for test results to tell her whether her endometrial cancer from two years prior had returned. Not long after returning from the trip Karen received the awful news that her cancer had unfortunately recurred, and she was scheduled for more surgery and chemotherapy. During treatment, Karen and Niamh booked their trip to Norway as something to look forward to and an incentive to stay positive and to keep as fit as possible.

Karen said she was coming to Norway no matter what. She knew that the trip would be fantastic with so much to see and do. However she was absolutely determined to be at full fitness as had her heart set on participating in all the planned hikes and activities. To prepare, she took up walking, running and yoga and set herself goals along the way. Amazingly just six months after finishing chemotherapy, Karen arrived in Norway and completed everything she had hoped and planned to do; including the trips most challenging hike up the incredible Knutshoe mountain. And rumour has it, when there was quiet chatter about the group doing an alternative shorter hike the following day, Karen said we absolutely mustn’t and was eager to do all the hikes as planned in the schedule – no shortcuts for this lady!

A big part of Karen’s love of the trip was the authenticity. The homemade food freshly prepared by our hosts of the 700 year old farmhouse we stayed at. Hearing stories of Norwegian traditions and folklore. The feeling that we were living the real Norwegian life, not just tourists in a hotel but actually living with the locals enjoying their way of life.

The best adventures are still ahead

The diagnosis of cancer has set Karens life on a different path. She no longer works long hours staring at a screen and has stepped back from work for a while. She has found a passion for yoga which has become a huge part of her life helping her find peace of mind and strength in the face of uncertainty.

She has also discovered a love and appreciation for the outdoors. Hiking, running, and climbing the odd mountain, not only supports her physical health – important should she need to face cancer treatment again – but also allows her to soak up the beauty of the world.

Karen will need check-ups every three months as well as regular scans to check for recurrence of her cancer, but she refuses to be held in its shadow and instead wants to life live fully.

It’s easy to let cancer hold me back she told me, but what I’ve learned is keep moving and to get outdoors as much as possible. Her advice to others is ‘don’t be afraid of taking on a new challenge or trying something new. Set yourself some goals, even small ones. Being outdoors makes you feel so good and the more adventures you have the more alive you feel’

With more memories to be made – and with Niamh by her side – Karen has already booked another Women Outdoors adventure. This time a Norwegian winter trip where she’ll be taking on new challenges like ice fishing and dog sledding, proving once again that her adventurous spirit is unstoppable.

Karen’s story is one of courage, hope, and the healing power of the outdoors. Her journey reminds us that while we can’t always choose what happens to us, we can choose how we respond—and sometimes, the best response is to step outside, breathe deeply, and keep moving forward.

Do you have a story? Maybe you’ve over come a lifelong fear or achieved something you never believed possible. If so, and if you’d be happy to share your story to inspire others, please ‘Contact Us’ and we’ll be in touch