Auchterarder woman in ‘toughest triathlon’ for cancer sufferer

Hardy Fiona takes on challenge to fund cousin’s treatment

A Perthshire woman swam, biked and ran nearly 2,000 miles across Tayside before a race to raise funds for her cancer-stricken cousin.

Auchterarder physiotherapist Fiona Maclean, 43, has been attacked by a swan, dodged jellyfish and lost a training shoe to a boggy marsh while training for the Ben Nevis Braveheart Triathlon.

Named the UK’s “toughest triathlon” the race comprises a 1.2 mile loch swim, 56 mile bike ride and a 13 mile run up and down Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis.

Fiona is taking on the extreme challenge to raise funds for her cousin Julie Strelley-Jones, 45, who has incurable secondary breast cancer.

Mother-of-two Julie, who lives in London, was diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) in 2012 but can no longer continue with her current cancer drug Kadcyla as it has become too toxic. She needs funds to explore other options not available on the NHS but these come at a huge cost.

Fiona said: “I chose this challenge, which is very appropriately named, to raise treatment funds for my brave and very big-hearted cousin Julie. After five years of gruelling treatment, she now needs to explore other options outwith the NHS. We want to give her the opportunity to be around as long as possible for her 12 and 14-year-old sons.

“I will hit ‘the wall’ several times over the course of this race and am preparing myself for that but the physical pain I will go through isn’t a patch on what Julie has to go through every day, not just treatment-wise, but emotionally, living with incurable breast cancer and the uncertainty that’s brought into her life.”

Julie said: “Fiona is amazing. I can’t thank her enough for what she is doing – it has spurred me on so much. We will be thinking of her for every step of this challenge.”

Fiona began training for the Fort William race in January and during that time has run around 661 miles, biked 975 miles and swam more than 41 miles – all before even getting to the start line.

She will be supported during her race on Sunday by her husband James, 41, a digital manager with SSE in Perth.

To make a donation visit gofundme.com/julie-sjs-treatment-fund

Fiona Maclean, left, is raising money for her cousin Julie Strelley-Jones who has breast cancer.

Fiona in training for the Ben Nevis Braveheart Triathlon.