Mum is on a mission to raise cash for charity

An inspirational mum is pedalling to success in aid of women battling cancer.

Catherine Anderson, 43, is coming to the end of treatment for triple negative breast cancer, after being diagnosed in October 2016.

Now the mum- of- two, from Houston, is taking on the cycling challenge of her life, starting with a mass spinathon.

Catherine, alongside friend Jennie McDermott and other supporters, will be pedalling in the spinning suite of the Bowfield Gym and Leisure Club, in Johnstone, for a whopping six hours.

Money raised from the spinathon will help fund a colossal cycle from London to Paris in aid of the charity Women v Cancer, which Catherine and friends will embark on later this year.

Catherine told the Express that getting on her bike for six hours will be a challenge, but worth the pain.

“When I was diagnosed, it was a very frightening time for my family and I,” she said.

“I was fit and healthy and there was no history of cancer in my family.

“Almost out the other side, I really want to set myself physical challenges.

“That is how these cycle challenges came about.”

Before being diagnosed, Catherine felt a lump on her right side, but never thought it was serious.

She then noticed it getting bigger after completing a cycle from Glasgow to Edinburgh.

Persuasion from a friend led to a doctor’s appointment, where Catherine discovered she had three tumors and an uncommon form of cancer, triple negative.

Catherine received her results the day before going on a family holiday to Florida with her husband, Alan, and their two children, Lucy 12, and Katie nine.

When the family returned home, they went ahead with their planned house move, which saw them moving into rented accommodation, and Catherine started her treatment.

Recovering from recent reconstructive surgery, the fighter remains positive about the future.

She said, “I’m feeling the best I’ve felt in a long time, but I’ll need to work on my fitness.

“We’re not cyclists and we’re not part of a club or anything. We’re doing the London to Paris cycle purely for charity.

“It will be a massive challenge, and I’m grateful Jennie will be there with me”.

Bowfield Hotel leisure manager Mark Butler said: “We’re delighted to help Catherine and Jennie with their challenge.

“We’ve got a great team here and many supportive members who are getting behind the Spinathon.

“We’re looking forward to a big turnout and, hopefully, lots of money will be raised for charity”.

The Spinathon takes place on Sunday, March 4, from 10am to 4pm.

Those who would like to take part can pay £10 for half an hour on the bike or £15 for one hour.

There will be different music from the decades to keep cyclists motivated throughout the day and collection buckets to make a donation.

A cake stall, raffle and more fundraisers will be on site at the Bowfield on the day.

To donate to the Spinathon and the London to Paris Cycle Challenge, contact the Bowfield Hotel on 01505 705225.

It was a very frightening time for me and my family Catherine Anderson