Scots cancer survivor's heartfelt airport reunion with daughter after 100km mountain trek

A Scots cancer survivor determined to turn her experience into a positive impact has taken on a 100km mountain trek for charity. Gemma McMullan, originally from Inverness, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in 2022.

Following intensive treatment, the 36-year-old trained for 10 months for the gruelling trek through the Indian Himalayas. Over nine days, Gemma and her team hiked for up to 11 hours a day, and raised £11,000 for CoppaFeel!, a charity dedicated to the awareness and early detection of breast cancer.

Despite the physical and emotional toll of the journey, the most difficult challenge for Gemma was being away from her five-year-old daughter Mara for the longest time they had ever been apart.

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An image of a dark-haired woman holding a small girl, standing next to a Christmas tree.
Gemma was finally reunited with five-year-old Mara after nine long days. -Credit:BIG Partnership

Due to the remote nature of the hike, there was no opportunity to contact her family, meaning her emotional reunion with Mara at the airport was a special moment for both mother and daughter.

The touching moment was captured on video, which was entered into Scots airline Loganair's A Season of Connections competition. The footage captured the hearts of voters, who picked Gemma as the overall winner.

Now living in Northern Ireland, Gemma has received a year's worth of free flights for herself and a companion, which she intends to use to visit family and friends.

In response to her win, Gemma said: “I am absolutely delighted to have won this competition, but my biggest prize was the reunion with Mara at the airport after such a long and challenging trek. The hike tested me in ways I never thought possible, but it also showed me how much strength and resilience we have when we work together.

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“This prize means so much to me because family has been my biggest source of support throughout my cancer journey. Now I’ll have the opportunity to visit loved ones more often and make more unforgettable memories.”

An image of a woman in a remote landscape, holding up two walking poles.
Gemma on her challenging hike through the Himalayas. -Credit:BIG Partnership

Lyn MacDonald, head of marketing and brand at Loganair, said: “Gemma’s story is one of incredible strength and resilience, and shows the power of connecting with our loved ones.

“Her video captures the spirit of what our campaign is all about: celebrating those heartfelt moments that bring us together, even in the face of challenges. It’s wonderful that we can play a part in allowing Gemma to reconnect with the people who matter most to her.”

The two runners-up, Graham Stevenson from Edinburgh and Deirdre Mahon from Derry, will also receive tickets to fly on Loganair’s renowned Glasgow to Barra service, which famously lands on the beach.

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