Maxine’s September Roundup: Hiking the Highlands with Emma Willis and Giovanna Fletcher for Coppafeel!

Hi Absoluters - I don’t know about you but I’ve had an amazing September! I hope you have too. We’ve been blessed with some wonderful late summer weather, too, which always helps lift the spirits.

The biggest thing for me in September was taking part in the Coppafeel! Scottish Highlands Charity Challenge. Coppafeel! was founded in 2009 by Kristin Hallenga and her twin sister Maren after Kris was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer at the age of 23.

Their goal is to give everyone the best possible chance of surviving breast cancer, and boy do they do a great job!

I took part in the hike in order to raise awareness of Coppafeel! especially among you, my amazing tribe of Absoluters, and I'd encourage everyone, no matter what age, to follow Coppafeel! Remember, Kris and Maren were only 23 when Kris was diagnosed.

Coppafeel! also offer tips on signs to look out for - one thing I learned last week is that not every sign is a lump.

I came away humbled beyond belief after being part of what I can only describe as an incredible movement, a movement of extraordinary ladies brought together by a life experience none of them expected to have. Witnessing first-hand the sharing of experiences and emotions was something that will never, ever leave me. What Kris has created with Coppafeel! is incredible, and Emma Willis, Gi, Gemma, Candice and Selasi all stepped up to the mark and gave not only their time but bags of encouragement and humour throughout the journey! I’m absolutely thrilled to have been involved in something so truly special.

In fact, it’s been a pretty special month all round for charity activities, as our fabulous Charlotte from Customer Services also undertook an amazing - and challenging! - charity walk. She took part in an incredible 21.5 mile walk up Brown Clee - the highest hill in Shropshire! - and back in order to raise money for a very special little boy called Gunner. It was gruelling and a hell of a challenge, but Charlotte is an absolute star and powered through to complete it, and we’re all so proud of her.

And the exercise challenges didn’t stop there! September also saw myself and some of the more adventurous members of Team AC throw ourselves into the Wolf Run. It was definitely a team bonding experience as we tackled the course together - and, oh, the mud!

In other news, I was so excited to hear that Maxerum had made it into the finals of the Pure Beauty Awards! It’s so amazing to be in the finals alongside some other great brands, and it’s always such an honour to be recognised. Everything I do is for you, the Absoluter, and as the Pure Beauty Awards are decided by a public vote, it truly means so much to me to know that so many fabulous Absoluters have voted for Maxerum! Fingers crossed, and I’ll let you all know if we win…

That’s not the only awards news, either - I’m delighted to reveal that I’ve been shortlisted for two categories in the National Business Women’s Awards 2021: Influential Business Woman of the Year and Business Woman of the Year - Small Business. When I started Absolute Collagen I had no business experience, and to be recognised in awards like these, along with some other incredible businesswomen, is truly amazing. I do it all for you, Absoluters - if I can do it, you can so do it!

Looking ahead to October, some of Team AC will be getting together for our first ever ‘away day’, and I can’t wait to share with you all how we get on. It’s been a long time coming and I’m beyond excited to get together with the team and have some proper fun! What are you most looking forward to in October?