Martine Berry said that ‘nothing can scare you’ after facing the fight she’s had to endure
Martine Berry decided to have a second go at backpacking, this time with her 21-year-old daughter Charlotte, after successfully beating breast cancer. Describing the experience as “even more special” after her challenging journey, the 50-year-old wants others to embrace life when faced with a second chance.
Following months of gruelling treatment, including a mastectomy on her right breast as well as rounds of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, Martine had a desire to create more happy memories in any way possible.
Although “dreadful”, the cancer ordeal provided the mum-of-two with a renewed outlook on life and she’s happy to embrace it with a two-month travel escapade with Charlotte. Their journey kicked off on June 24, when they boarded a £370 one-way flight to Jakarta, Indonesia, armed with nothing but a backpack and a cabin-sized rucksack between them.
The only plans they’ve had so far are to stay in budget-friendly hostels and with local families, allowing the path of their adventure to unfold naturally. Martine, from Manchester, told Luxury Travel Daily: “When you’ve looked down the barrel of a cancer gun, nothing can scare you.
“I did the backpacking thing when I was in my twenties with my husband Ian around Europe, Australia, America and Asia, so I know I love life on the road. Doing it at 50 makes it even more special, with only a few more aches and pains – but Charlotte is here to help carry the bags this time. We’re staying in youth hostels, home-stays where locals open up their beautiful homes, and bungalows.
“I’m happy to meet and chat to everyone, every backpacker wants the same thing and there are a lot of us oldies out on the road. You don’t have to have a gap year at 18 – you just need a thirst for new experiences.”
Martine said her “whirlwind” cancer journey started in September 2023 after discovering something unusual in her right breast before bed. She said: “It was like a dent or a pull rather than a lump. I thought it was weird, so I went to the GP two days later and got referred for a mammogram and biopsy.
“The diagnosis felt surreal. I was simply devastated.” Martine said that telling her children about the cancer was one of the hardest things.
She said: “When I was diagnosed, it was surreal. I was devastated. Telling the children was so hard. I told them we’d get through it. It was horrible beyond words.” But she pulled through and got an all-clear back in July 2024.
Martine added: “My cancer journey has been an eye-opener – it’s made me realise that you need to say yes to life. I’ve tried to instil in the kids that they should say yes to things and if they don’t like it, they don’t do it again.”
Post-treatment, Martine immediately began planning for the future and was determined for her daughter Charlotte to embark on her dream journey, saying: “I wanted Charlotte to live her dream. As nice as our village is, there’s so much more of the world to see.”
In an inspiring turn of events, Charlotte reconsidered going backpacking alone after witnessing her mum’s battle. Now, they aim to prove that life can not only continue after cancer but also flourish as they travel parts of Asia together.
Charlotte said: “Mum’s always told us to live each day as best you can, even before the diagnosis. It’s just me and Mum for a month. How cool is that?” Charlotte further praised her mum as ” an inspiration” and evidence that “you can do anything”. Martine’s husband Ian, 50, and son Oliver, 19, intend to join them during the later part of their journey.
If breast cancer has impacted you or someone you know, there are resources and support services available. These can come from national charities providing information, helplines, online support services, and forums.