A TWENTY-mile hike will be a walk in the park for Emma Vaughan-Jones, who is taking on her second Pink Ribbonwalk this year.

So far 670 walkers from across the UK have signed up to the event at Blenheim Palace on Saturday, May 9, which raises crucial funds for cancer support charity Breast Cancer Care.

Ambitious but amateur walkers will find hope in Mrs Vaughan-Jones, 42, who, despite last year’s triumph, described herself as “not a fitness person”.

She completed the 20-mile route, the longest available to participants, in about six hours.

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The Wantage resident said: “The last five miles were hard going. I’d done 10 miles before in hikes with the Brownies and the London MoonWalk, so I thought I would push myself.

“I did it on my own, but halfway through I paired up with another lady walking with her friend and sister, which made the miles go a bit quicker. I didn’t feel like I was on my own because there were so many people around talking.”

She celebrated with a takeaway and a bottle of wine.

Mrs Vaughan-Jones works for national charity Home Farm Trust, which provides support for people with learning disabilities.

Her role involves training staff to use technology like panic alarms, door sensors and easy-touse mobile phones.

Three years ago a colleague, Jenny Collier, was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Mrs Vaughan-Jones said: “She was so strong throughout the whole experience. That gave me a boost.”

Mrs Collier, 60, a senior support worker and ex-nurse, was treated at the Churchill Hospital and still attends Maggie’s Centre.

The cancer was successfully removed and she now hopes to get the all clear in November 2016.

She said: “I was astounded by the support from friends, family and colleagues. Most of us don’t realise how many friends we have until the chips are down.

“Emma is a lovely girl and gives so much to the community.”Mrs Vaughan-Jones said she had not begun training for the walk but hoped to start shortly and had joined a running club, adding: “It would be nice to do it a bit quicker this time. I would say I’d like to do it without so many aches – but that won’t happen.”

Husband Wayne, 49, and daughter Willow, four, are unable to attend the walk but she will be joined by sister-in-law Paulina Vaughan and nephew Jake Hoskins and aims to top the £400 she raised last year.

Organisers expect 950 people to take part in the event, nowin its 11th year.