Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 08:30 - 19:00 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
Coronavirus FAQs
Questions about Coronavirus? Click here for more information. Please note that due to exceptional circumstances our opening hours are currently 09:00 to 17:30 Monday to Friday. We apologise for any inconvenience.
14 August 2013 11:34
A woman diagnosed with breast cancer a year ago is set to climb Kilimanjaro
A mother-of-two from Cardiff is set to climb Africa's highest mountain - one month after she finishes her treatment for breast cancer.
Rachael Barlow-Maguire, 41, was diagnosed with the disease a year ago. By the time the lump in her breast was discovered, it was already 4.5cm in size and had begun to spread.
She underwent radiotherapy and is currently on an intravenous treatment until the middle of August.
"I had the chemo for four months along with herceptin, which I have for a year, I also used alternative treatments, including reflexology and mediation, and when they went to check during surgery, they found that the cancer had gone," Mrs Barlow-Maguire told Wales Online. She will have to take drugs for at least another five years to reduce the risk of the cancer re-occurring.
Mrs Barlow-Maguire, who has a 10-year-old daughter named Ellie and a six-year-old son named Ed, is now preparing for her trek up Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for Cardiff's Velindre Hospital, where she received her treatment.
Specialist travel insurance for cancer patients should help her and those in a similar situation enjoy a carefree and relaxing holiday.
John Byers of Cardiff PT Studio, who has been training with her, said: "We did take it easy at first while we were re-introducing her body to exercise but over the last couple of months we have been pushing her to make sure she is fit enough to enjoy the beauty of Kilimanjaro."
The money raised for the hospital's cancer centre will be used to help other people diagnosed with cancer and their families receive the best possible care, support and treatment.
Mrs Barlow-Maguire, who will embark on the trek up the 19,340ft mountain along with comedian Rhod Gilbert, said she was overwhelmed by the support she received from friends and family, but also from the community.
She said: "I had just celebrated my 40th birthday when I found the lump. It has totally changed my life and how I look and see everything. In some ways though it has enriched my life, I have been amazed by the response from the local community."
28 February 2020
Keep your carbon footprint in check and travel green with our eco-friendly travel tips.
[more...]
25 February 2020
For true carefree travel, decide on a destination that's kinder to the planet...
20 February 2020
Travel into the future and not just through time-zones, with destinations shaping urban living.
National Anthem Day falls on the 3rd March, so what better excuse is there to delve into into the world of music and motherland?
Discover five alternative places to get down on one knee this leap year.
Two-wheels are better than none. Check out our favourite cities best explored from a saddle.
04 February 2020
Make your phone the perfect travel companion for the new year...
Bohemian boulevards and ornate opera houses await away from the Six Nations action.
Kite Flying Day falls on 8th February. What better time is there to plan your next trip through the skies?
10 February 2020
With Ferris Wheel Day on 14th February, there's never been a better excuse to enjoy a foreign skyline.
Looking for a Valentine's getaway but want to avoid the clichés? Try one these alternative romantic destinations...
27 January 2020
With ancient architecture and marble marvels at every turn, there are plenty of reasons to get onside with our plans away from the rugby in Rome.