Lorraine Cross, a Clinical Secretary at University Hospital Wishaw, and her husband Steven are making an emotional road trip from Lanarkshire to Portugal – fuelled by courage, love and resilience.
In doing so, they are also looking to raise funds for Maggie’s, the cancer support charity.
Lorraine said: “Steven was diagnosed with cancer last October. He was initially given three to four months to live, however Steven is defying expectations and he is determined to support Maggie’s to thank them for their support.
“Maggie’s has been absolutely fantastic. They have been a lifeline to Steven since his diagnosis. They have helped keep my husband – and our girls’ dad – here. We’re so proud to be doing this together.”
The couple decided to drive to their ‘happy place’, the town of Alvor in Portugal – a round journey of over 4,000 miles. Alvor is where Lorraine and Steven spent their honeymoon in 2007. Their fundraiser, Steven’s Miles for Maggie’s, is aiming for £1 per mile travelled, with a goal of £4,100 to match their route to and from Portugal.
The route has already taken them through Manchester, Dover, Calais, Lussac, Biarritz, Bilbao, and into Portugal via Braga, Monsanto, and Alvor — with plenty of memorable stops along the way.
Steven said: “Every day I wake up and try to enjoy life with my wife and daughters. Just getting the chance to go back to Alvor means everything to me.
“I didn’t want to fly to Portugal because of the recirculated air. So, I thought, I’m driving and, if I’m driving, why not try to help somebody else and raise some funds for Maggie’s? Maggie’s has been phenomenal, absolutely phenomenal.”
Leaving from Maggie’s Lanarkshire, on the grounds of University Hospital Monklands, the couple were given a fond farewell from the Maggie’s team, friends and family, including their daughters, Amiee and Kayleigh.
Amiee said: “I’m proud of my dad for being so resilient. He has never dealt with anything like this before and yet he always has a smile on his face. It shows that no matter how hard it gets, you keep pushing through.
“I’m so proud of them both, not just for raising money, but for showing people what it means to live life fully, even in the face of something like cancer.”
As they continue winding through Europe, Steven and Lorraine carry with them a message of hope and a deep gratitude for the care and support they have received.
You can support Steven’s Miles for Maggie’s by donating to their JustGiving page.
