Gran, 82, set for 1,600 mile charity ride... after knee op
A CYCLING gran is planning to pedal 1,600 miles for a cancer charity – despite undergoing a knee operation.
Mavis Paterson, 82, started raising money after losing all three of her children over four years.
Next year she wants to tackle the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland, the longest coastal bike ride in the world.
Last year she became the oldest woman to cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats and raised more than £75,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support. Now she is raring to go to support the charity again.
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Ms Paterson said: “I just have the small issue of a knee operation and then I can start to plan this. I love Ireland and it’s a long way to go, but I know I can do it.
“It has taken me a long time to get to this point in my life, I’ve had a lot of help and support along the way.To lose a child is the worst thing on earth, but to lose all three?
“I do it for Macmillan but I also do it for my three it’s for them too.”
Her son Sandy died of a heart attack in 2012, Katie after suffering viral pneumonia in 2013 and Bob in an accident in 2016. All were in their 40s.
Mavis, who lives near Stranraer in Dumfries and Galloway, cycled across Canada 10 years ago to raise money for the same charity when she turned 70. In 2018 after turning 80 she finished a 24-hour bike ride, six months after having an operation for a new knee and hip.
Her fundraising has led the charity to present her with their highest honour – the Sir Hugh Dundas Award.
She said: “When I lost my children, I wasn’t able to concentrate on anything. The grief is unimaginable, it never goes away, it’s awful.
“Raising money for Macmillan and planning challenging cycles has been a great way to focus away from my grief and use what energy I have to do some good.” children,
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