A MUM-OF-TWO will swap the office for a bicycle as she gets ready to cycle from London to Paris for charity.

Margaret Thom is one of more than 100 women taking part in the epic trip to raise money and awareness in the fight against breast, ovarian and cervical cancers.

The 53-year-old will cycle more than 85 miles each day over the course of three days as she leaves Hampton Court before reaching the Eiffel Tower.

Margaret, who previously worked at Bravissimo in Edinburgh, told the Courier she wanted to do something which pushed her while raising funds for the good causes.

The event, the ninth Women V Cancer challenge, will raise funds for Breast Cancer Care, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust and Ovarian Cancer Action.

Margaret said: “I decided I was getting to a point in life where it was ticking along and I just wanted to engage in something and to give something to those particular charities.

“I used to work in Bravissimo, who are a bra-fitting firm, and we would see a lot of mastectomies.

“It is quite heart-rending when you see that and people dealing with a lot of personal issues, how people cope with that and I wanted to do something to help.”

She added: “I worked there for four years after myself and my husband gave up the catering at Dunbar Golf Club.

“The women that came in were so inspirational – they were just unbelievable.”

After ruling out a simple fundraiser, Margaret decided upon the epic cycle, which will see the group head from London to Portsmouth on day one, before heading on the ferry across to Caen.

Day two is from the French coastal city to Evreux before the final leg takes them into the French capital city to the iconic landmark, where a glass of champagne will be waiting.

Margaret, who now works as property manager at Dunbar’s Cruz Property Management Ltd, got a new bicycle after Christmas to prepare for the challenge, which takes place in October.

The Kellie Road resident said: “I needed a bit of get up and go. You get lazier as you get older and I really wanted to challenge myself and give myself that little bit more.

“What a difference it has made to me, getting out and exercising, and even dragging my husband out with me.”

Ahead of the cycle, Margaret, who needs to raise a minimum of £1,600, is holding a fundraiser on Friday (April 13).

Singer Jack Robertson performs at Dunbar British Legion from 7.30pm, as well as a disco, with tickets, £10, from Victoria’s the hairdressers, on West Port, or by phoning Margaret.

Raffle prizes have also been donated by many local and Edinburgh-based businesses, including Glenkinchie Distillery, Balmoral Hotel, Valvona Crolla, Stobo Castle, Dunbar Golf Course and Musselburgh Racecourse, while A F Noble & Son, Bravissimo and Cruz Property Management Ltd have sponsored her.

For more information, call 07957 238480 or go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/margaret-thom