Two doctors and lifelong friends have raised more than £6,000 for Prevent Breast Cancer after completing a 2,120km race across Europe, following one team member’s recovery from breast cancer and a serious hip injury.
Dr Síle McDaid from Delamere and Dr Libby Artingstall, founder and Medical Director of Manchester wellness clinic Projuvenate, travelled from Amsterdam to Prague in two days, two hours and 49 minutes, taking 13 trains, one bus and two taxis and clocking up more than 50,000 steps.
The pair more than doubled their original £3,000 fundraising target. Together, the 24 teams taking part in the challenge have raised over £100,000 for Manchester-based charity Prevent Breast Cancer, with donations still coming in.
Inspired by the television series Race Across the World, the challenge was organised by Prevent Breast Cancer in partnership with adventure specialists Lupine Racing.
The two friends set off from Amsterdam at 4 pm on Thursday, 17th of September
Their route took them across Germany, into Poland and towards Slovakia before heading west to Prague, where they crossed the finish line beneath the city’s famous Astronomical Clock on Saturday evening, 19th of September.
The journey involved quick decisions, unexpected changes of plan and thousands of steps between connections. For Síle, reaching the finish line marked a milestone that had once seemed out of reach.
Diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer at 33, she underwent chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy. Her treatment was successful, and she is now cancer-free, but she continued to face challenges during her recovery.
In 2025, she suffered a serious hip fracture in a skiing accident, requiring surgery and months using a wheelchair. At the lowest point of her rehabilitation, she questioned whether she would ever walk normally again.
Libby and her brother, Rob Artingstall, Projuvenate’s Head of Physiotherapy and former lead physiotherapist for England Rugby League, supported Síle through a rehabilitation programme at the Manchester clinic, helping her rebuild her strength, confidence and independence.
Síle said:
When I was using a wheelchair after breaking my hip, I wondered whether I would ever walk properly again. To have now travelled more than 2,000km across Europe and walked over 50,000 steps along the way is something I’m incredibly proud of.
Libby and Rob helped me through a very difficult time, so reaching Prague with Libby beside me meant so much. We’ve been friends since medical school, and this is an experience neither of us will forget.
Having been through breast cancer myself, the charity’s work is deeply personal to me. Thank you to everyone who donated and supported us. To have raised more than £6,000 is wonderful.
The fundraising began before the pair left the UK. On Wednesday, 16th of September, Projuvenate hosted An Evening of Fashion, Beauty and Breast Awareness, featuring an Autumn/Winter showcase from Boudicca Boutique, a make-up masterclass with Cate Hatton and breast-awareness advice from representatives of The Wilmslow Hospital and the Nightingale Centre.
Síle also shared her personal story with guests, explaining why the challenge and the charity’s work meant so much to her.
After completing the race, the teams gathered on Sunday to celebrate and share their reasons for taking part.
Libby said:
There were plenty of changes of plan along the way, and we were constantly working out our next connection. Arriving beneath the Astronomical Clock together was a brilliant moment.
Meeting the other teams and hearing why they were racing made the experience even more meaningful. So many people had a personal connection to breast cancer.
We’re hugely grateful to everyone who came to our fundraising evening, donated or cheered us on. We set out hoping to raise £3,000, so to have more than doubled that is fantastic.
Prevent Breast Cancer funds research into predicting and preventing breast cancer. Based at the Nightingale Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital, the charity also supports breast-awareness education.
