A WOMAN has successfully completed a 1,500-plus mile cycle across the UK in tribute to her late mother.
Juliette Camburn, who grew up near Athelstaneford, has raised more than £10,000 for the cancer support charity Maggie’s after herself beating cancer in 2004 and her mum Sue passing away of breast cancer in January of this year.
Juliette, along with her partner Francis Hayes, completed the epic charity ride where they visited every UK Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centre, travelling the same distance as Land’s End to John O’Groats twice over and twice the height of Mount Everest.
The keen cyclists, who now live in Stirling, set out on June 1, and travelled around northern Scotland, south Wales, London, northern England and finished on June 28 at their starting point at Maggie’s Cancer Care Centre in Edinburgh.
Juliette, 42, said of the challenge: “I used my mum’s bike, a 30-year-old Dawes Galaxy, and it definitely felt like she was with me all the way round. We got to see parts of the country that we hadn’t seen before and visiting all the centres reminded us that the money we are raising is going to such a good cause.”
On the final stretch, Juliette was joined by her sister Jess, and father Martyn, who now live in Drem, who jumped on their bikes to ride side by side as they finished the journey in Edinburgh.
Juliette continued: “The last three days from Gateshead to Edinburgh Maggie’s was a high – we had glorious sunshine, beautiful coastal route and being joined on the last day by my family and one of my best friends who also lost her mum to cancer this year. We had a picnic on Portobello beach on the way!
“After completing our epic journey, Maggie’s Edinburgh welcomed us back and the staff and volunteers had laid on a buffet with fizz.”
Despite these highs, the long journey came with its own problems as Juliette explained: “June wasn’t the best month weather-wise: there were lots of long days when we were wet from start to finish, we were never cold though.
“We got lost a few times, especially in the cities, and I had a niggle in my left knee on day two which got really painful over the next few days and was hard mentally, knowing we still had so far to go. Luckily my body just adapted to being on the bike and the pain went away.
“I was happy to get to do this challenge with my partner Francis who kept me going with his humour, patience and support.”
Donate via Juliette’s Just Giving page:
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here