My Activity Tracking
25
kms
My target 25 kms
Why I’m Walking 15 Miles for the Banham Marsden March
There are moments in life that quietly change you. Moments that shift your perspective and stay with you long after they’ve passed. For me, this is one of them.
This year, I’ve decided to take on a personal challenge: walking 15 miles (around 25 kilometres) as part of the Banham Marsden March (at home), supporting The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. It’s not just about the distance, but about what that distance represents.
Over time, I’ve come to see more closely the impact that serious illness can have, not just on individuals, but on the people around them. The strength it takes, the uncertainty, the resilience, and the quiet courage shown every single day. It’s something that stays with you.
What stands out just as much is the role of places like The Royal Marsden, not just as hospitals, but as spaces of care, expertise, and hope. The work they do goes far beyond treatment. It’s about giving people time, comfort, and the best possible support during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
This walk is my way of doing something , however small, to give back. To contribute to the research, the care, and the ongoing fight against cancer. And to stand in solidarity with everyone who has experienced it in any form: those going through it, those who have come through it, and those who support them.
Walking 15 miles will be a challenge. There will be moments of tiredness, discomfort, and doubt. But in those moments, I’ll be thinking about the reason behind each step, and that will carry me forward.
If this walk can help raise awareness, spark a conversation, or contribute even a little to such an important cause, then every mile will be worth it.
Thank you for your support, whether that is through donation or through encouragement!
My achievements
Profile picture added
You shared your page!
You created a team
You increased your target
You added a blog post
You self-donated!
You've got your first donation
50% of your target raised
Fundraising goal reached!
My updates
25 km!!!
Sunday 10th May I did it!!! I crossed the finish line and completed the 25 km walk!!! What a day it has been, truly, what an achievement. I am so thankful for all of the support I have recieved today and it was truly an unforgettable day. I truly thought about everyone I walked for every mile of the way!
22 km
Sunday 10th May And I’m on my 22nd kilometre of this challenge! It has truly been a test of patience and endurance! I am still as determined as this morning. With only a couple of km’s left, my mother has joined me to complete the walk! I truly hope that next year I can be there for the walk in person! One last push!
Keep on walking!
Sunday 10th May So, I have just completed the 17 km mark! Only just now have my feet started to sing the song of soreness and blisters but honestly, not bad! I still have the determination which I started this walk with! I will complete it soon enough! 8 km left!
Halfway There!
Sunday 10th May I have just completed 12,50 km of the walk! Which means I am officially at the halfway mark! It is quite a lovely and sunny day with occasional winds here in The Hague, which has made this walk just so much more enjoyable!
Here we go!!
Sunday 10th May
TRAINING!
Friday 8th MayI have been training for this 25 km walk for just over a month now. I am by no means an athlete, but I am an absolute nutter for a strategy.
Over the past few weeks, I have spent a surprising amount of time thinking about how I want to complete my 25 km walking challenge on Sunday, 10th May. I have planned routes, pacing, breaks, lunch stops, backup plans, sock changes, and even debated whether I should switch shoes halfway through the walk. Yes, it turns out long-distance walking involves far more logistics than I originally imagined!
One of the biggest advantages of taking part in The Banham Marsden March at Home is that I can completely personalise my route and walking journey. Very early on, I realised that I would not be walking the full 25 km in one go, and honestly, I think recognising that was one of the smartest decisions I made. Instead of focusing on doing everything perfectly, I focused on creating a strategy to help me complete the challenge safely and sustainably.
My current plan is to split the walk into sections:
- 10 km
- 6 km
- 5 km
- 4 km
Breaking the challenge down mentally like this has made the distance feel far less overwhelming and much more achievable.
Training itself has been an experience. I started slowly, with shorter distances and gentle pacing, gradually building myself up physically and mentally. Along the way, I also started paying close attention to my pacing, my walking splits, how my body felt, and what worked best for me.
Looking back now, I’m proud of how far I’ve come in a relatively short amount of time:
My Training Journey
- 16 April 2026 – 1.47 km in 37m 45s
- 17 April 2026 – 2.04 km in 40m 7s
- 18 April 2026 – 3.16 km in 1h 10m
- 19 April 2026 – 4.36 km in 1h 19m
- 20 April 2026 – 5.05 km in 1h 23m
- 23 April 2026 – 6.55 km in 1h 37m
- 25 April 2026 – 2.71 km in 39m 40s
- 26 April 2026 – 1.08 km in 13m 18s
- 30 April 2026 – 2.56 km in 27m 49s
- 5 May 2026 – 6.34 km in 1h 54m
- 6 May 2026 – 2.09 km in 32m 33s
- 7 May 2026 - 7.02 km in 2h 13m
On 8th May (today), I plan to complete a walk between 5-7 km and on 9th May, I plan to walk a relaxing 1 km walk to prepare for the big day!
I’m feeling nervous, excited, emotional, and incredibly grateful for all the support I’ve received so far. Every donation, encouraging message, and conversation about this cause has helped motivate me to keep going.
Sunday will definitely be a challenge, but I’m ready to take it one step at a time 💛
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Thank you!
Thursday 7th MayWith just a couple of days left until The Banham Marsden March, I just want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has donated and helped raise funds for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Your kindness, encouragement, and generosity truly mean so much to me.
I have been training really hard for this walkathon and feel incredibly motivated to complete this challenge, raise even more funds, and continue spreading awareness for such an important cause.
Over the past few weeks, this journey has become about so much more than just walking 25 kilometres. It has taught me resilience, patience, and the importance of community. There were days when training felt easy and empowering, and other days when exhaustion, aches, and self-doubt made the challenge feel much bigger. But through every step, I kept reminding myself why I started.
Cancer affects so many lives, not only the individuals going through it, but also the families, friends, and loved ones supporting them every single day. That is why this cause means so much to me. Supporting organisations like The Royal Marsden helps contribute towards life-changing treatment, research, and care, while also bringing hope to countless people and families. One of the most beautiful parts of this experience has been seeing how people come together for a cause that matters.
As Sunday approaches, I am feeling nervous, excited, and determined all at once, but most of all, grateful.
If you would still like to support this cause, donations of any amount are deeply appreciated. Thank you for being part of this journey with me and for helping make a difference, one step at a time 💛
Thank you to my Sponsors
£400
International School Wassenaar
£15
Lieke
Fantastic effort, Tanwi! You can do this!!
£20
Ritika Chaudhary
Good luck Tanwi 🤗
£20
Mari-louise Van Der Merwe
Good luck today Tanwi!!
£20
Fam. Mehta
All the best, Fam. Mehta ❤️
£20
Sandra Van Den Berg
Good luck, dear!
£20
Lucy De Feijter
You are amazing doing this, Tanwi!
£50
San Di Mare
Thank you for your support ! ❤️
£20
Amy Morgan-foster
It’s great you’re doing this Tanwi!
£150
Fabio Di Mare
£20
Louise Goh
£10
Anonymous
£20
Cheryl Oosterman
What a great initiative! All the best and marcellous that you’re doing this!
£100
This amount was raised by MYP1 of International School Wassenaar, the Netherlands. They achieved this by hosting a bake sale connected to their community engagement for English Language and Literature. The name of the bake sale was Sonnets and Scones, where students learned about Shakespeare, and then they learned how to write a sonnet. They wrote handwritten sonnets on the topic of ‘hope’. They sold baked goods and handed out their sonnets during the bake sale.