Grieving granny sets off on record-breaking bike trip
● Scot to be oldest woman to cycle length of Britain
An 81-year-old Scottish grandmother who tragically lost all three of her grown-up children within four years of each other set off yesterday in her bid become the oldest woman to cycle the full length of Britain.
Ma vis Pater son, who was widowed in 1996, saw her son Sandy and daughter Katie die from health problems just six months apart in 2012 and 2013, then lost her other son Bob in an accident three years ago.
Now the octogenarian, from Wigtonshire, has set out to pedal 960 miles from Land’s End to John O’groats in their memory.
Along the way she hopes to raise £20,000 for the charity Macmillan Cancer Support, which she began backing after her mum and younger sister died from the disease.
The Guinness Book of Records has confirmed Mrs Paterson will become the official record-holder once she completes the route.
“I’m excited and a little bit nervous about getting started, however it’ s something I really want to do,” she said. “It will be nice to get the world record, but for me I’m doing it to raise money for Macmillan and because cycling and taking on big challenges help me cope with the unimaginable grief of losing my children.
“It’s impossibly hard going from being part of a family of five to being alone, but it’s taking on challenges like this that keep me going. I’ve taken on big challenges before, but this will be the toughest.”
It is not the first time the pensioner, who has three grandchildren, has got on her bike to raise funds for the charity.
Last year she completed a 24-hour cycle in the west of S cotland and ten years ago rode across Canada.
She has been training for her current challenge since last October, using a turbo trainer when the weather was bad.
She added: “It has been unbelievable grief after my children died unexpectedly, but if I have a challenge I can focus on that and the grief is not so bad.”
Macmillan staff and volunteers will join her for parts of the ride.
Derek Watson, fund ra ising manager for Macmillan, said: “Mavis is incredible. The challenge she has set herself is astounding and we cannot wait to cheer her on to get that world record.
“Her determination, incredible level of fitness and her generosity is astounding.”
Alex Menarry, from Darlington, became the oldest man to cycle the route last year when he completed the trip at the age of 85 and 291 days.