Touching moment Scottish cancer survivor reunited with daughter after 100km mountain trek

A Scottish mum overcame aggressive cancer and completed a gruelling 100km mountain trek for charity.

Brave Gemma McMullan was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in 2022. The now 36-year-old had intensive treatment and recently trained for 10 months before taking on the hike through the Indian Himalayas.

Over nine days Gemma and her team hiked for 11 hours a day, raising £11,000 in the process for CoppaFeel!, a charity dedicated to the awareness and early detection of breast cancer.

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Gemma, originally from Inverness, was also met by her five-year-old daughter Mara at the airport upon arriving back home in Northern Ireland, reports the Record.

According to the mum-of-one, being away from Mara for the longest time since she was born was the most challenging part of the trip. Due to the remote nature of the hike, there was no opportunity to contact her family.

Gemma's emotional reunion with Mara at the airport was a special moment for both mother and daughter and was caught on camera in heartwarming footage.

The touching moment 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.

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"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.

"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."

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.

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"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.