Nurse's 2,000-mile challenge for mum with cancer
BBCA nurse is beginning a 2,000-mile challenge to raise awareness and money for charity to celebrate her mum who has stage four bowel cancer.
Ellishia Lauder's mum Tracey Carter now lives with a stoma bag following her diagnosis three years ago.
Lauder, from Stafford, said she had been inspired by her mum's resilience and spirit - and being a nurse herself she said she wanted to push herself to make a difference.
The challenge will span the coming year and begin on Friday, when she will be raising money for the University Hospitals of North Midlands charity, as well as two stoma charities.
"We've had lots of peaks and troughs, multiple surgeries and there's been multiple times where the cancer's come back," Lauder said.
"She's got such a great attitude: 'keep going, getting yourself up' and just keep dealing with the new day, no matter what life throws at you."
Mum-of three Carter, 65, said she was generally in good health but said having the stoma bag felt like an attack on her femininity.
Ellishia LauderShe said she was not always able to relax in social situations as a result but it had saved her life and it was something she had learned to deal with.
"I'm still dealing with cancer but I try not to think about it too much," she explained.
"It took me probably a lot more soul-searching to get used to having a stoma bag than it did living with cancer."
She added: "I don't think about it too much, having cancer, I just get on with life."
Lauder said the challenge would mean walking about 5-6 miles per day but added that she was planning to incorporate a few extra elements.
Her dogs would be joining her for some of her walks too, she said.
"Nothing's been decided yet in specifics but I am going to do a few more walking challenges as well, which I'll be launching throughout the year," she said.
"It was born mainly out of showing appreciation for mum but gratitude for our NHS," she added.
Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.