This year marks 10 years of My Peak Challenge. When we launched, our first charity partner was Blood Cancer UK. A decade on, that commitment — to turn personal goals into collective good — still drives us. This September, we’re celebrating with the Munro Step Challenge, aiming to raise as much as possible for Blood Cancer UK.
A decade ago, we took our first steps together toward better health, bigger goals, and a shared mission to beat blood cancer. Since then, we’ve walked across countries, climbed mountains, and even stepped our way to the moon.
Now, to celebrate 10 years of the My Peak Challenge × Blood Cancer UK partnership, we’re returning to our roots—the mighty Munros of Scotland.
This year’s challenge? We’re taking on the 10 tallest Munros: Ben Nevis, Ben Macdui, Braeriach, Cairn Toul, Sgòr an Lochain Uaine, Cairn Gorm, Aonach Beag, Aonach Mòr, Càrn Mòr Dearg, and Ben Lawers. Together, they stand over 12,000 metres tall—and we’re challenging our community to match that height with 16,000 steps a day for 30 days.
Whether you’re headed up a trail or circling your kitchen, every step adds to our team total, fuels vital research into leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma, and brings us closer to a future free from blood cancer.
But what is blood cancer, exactly? And why is it so urgent?
Blood cancer 101
Blood cancer starts in the blood cells and can stop your blood from doing everyday jobs like fighting infection or helping your body repair. In the UK, about 40,000 people are diagnosed each year, and roughly 280,000 are living with blood cancer today.
Types at a glance
Each has different symptoms, treatments, and outcomes, which is why tailored information and research matter so much.
Acute vs. chronic
Some blood cancers are acute (fast-growing); others are chronic (slower-growing). The path, and the pace, can look very different from person to person.
Children get it, too
Blood cancer is the most common cancer in children—another reason earlier diagnosis and gentler treatments are vital.
If you’ve just been diagnosed—or you’re supporting someone who has
If you’ve recently been diagnosed with any type of blood cancer, you can order Blood Cancer UK’s free booklet, “Your blood cancer diagnosis – what happens now?” It covers the key things to know, including tips from people who’ve been there.
If someone you love has been diagnosed, Blood Cancer UK also offers information for family and friends—how to support someone with blood cancer, practical tips, coping with your own emotions, and real stories from other friends and family members.
Why it happens
Blood cancers begin when DNA changes inside blood cells make them behave abnormally. In most cases, these changes aren’t something you can control or pass down. Risk can be influenced by factors like age, sex, ethnicity, family history, certain exposures, and some health conditions, depending on the type
Blood cancer is the 5th most common cancer in the UK, and a new diagnosis occurs every 14 minutes.
The Institute of Cancer Research
Why your steps matter
Because causes and treatments are complex, research is everything: it drives earlier diagnoses, kinder therapies, and better outcomes. When you join the Munro Step Challenge, you help fund:
- Lifesaving research that pushes treatments forward.
- Free, trusted information for anyone newly diagnosed.
- Support for families and friends navigating the hardest days.
- Resources for childhood blood cancers, so parents aren’t walking this path alone.
Get Ready To Step
Set a goal that stretches you. Dedicate your miles to someone you love. Team up, share your progress, and help us make this our biggest year yet.
