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| Grandmother cycling 1,000 miles in memory of her three children | Grandmother cycling 1,000 miles in memory of her three children |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Mavis Paterson, 84, is starting her 1,000 mile journey around Scotland | Mavis Paterson, 84, is starting her 1,000 mile journey around Scotland |
| A Galloway grandmother has set herself a gruelling physical challenge to help her cope with "unbearable grief". | A Galloway grandmother has set herself a gruelling physical challenge to help her cope with "unbearable grief". |
| Mavis Paterson will spend her 85th birthday cycling around Scotland, covering more than 1,000 miles (1,609km). | Mavis Paterson will spend her 85th birthday cycling around Scotland, covering more than 1,000 miles (1,609km). |
| She previously became the oldest woman to cycle the 960 miles (1,540km) from Land's End to John O'Groats. | She previously became the oldest woman to cycle the 960 miles (1,540km) from Land's End to John O'Groats. |
| This time she is going even further, with her pedals powered by heart-breaking personal tragedy. | This time she is going even further, with her pedals powered by heart-breaking personal tragedy. |
| Mavis - or "Granny Mave", as she is known - cycles to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Care. And she rides in memory of her children. | Mavis - or "Granny Mave", as she is known - cycles to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Care. And she rides in memory of her children. |
| Mave lost all three of them in just four years. | Mave lost all three of them in just four years. |
| Her son Sandy died of a heart attack in 2012, daughter Katie of viral pneumonia in 2013, and son Bob died in an accident in 2016. | Her son Sandy died of a heart attack in 2012, daughter Katie of viral pneumonia in 2013, and son Bob died in an accident in 2016. |
| They were all in their 40s. | They were all in their 40s. |
| Sandy, Katie and Bob died within four years | Sandy, Katie and Bob died within four years |
| "When I am cycling, I don't think about them so much," she said, "which is a big help to me because the grief is unbearable. | "When I am cycling, I don't think about them so much," she said, "which is a big help to me because the grief is unbearable. |
| "When my children died I just didn't know what to do. But the cycling has helped me a lot." | "When my children died I just didn't know what to do. But the cycling has helped me a lot." |
| Mave, who has three grown-up grandchildren, said that taking on challenges takes her mind off her pain and helps her cope, that it is "like therapy". | |
| She added: "I can't go on living my life thinking about them all the time. | She added: "I can't go on living my life thinking about them all the time. |
| "I do think about them a lot but I've got to face life, so I take on the challenges which are a huge help to me. The last one I did was wonderful because it took my mind off of the children." | "I do think about them a lot but I've got to face life, so I take on the challenges which are a huge help to me. The last one I did was wonderful because it took my mind off of the children." |
| Mavis has been training with 36-mile sessions around Galloway | Mavis has been training with 36-mile sessions around Galloway |
| Mave began supporting Macmillan Cancer Support after her mother Cathy and younger sister Sandra died from cancer. | Mave began supporting Macmillan Cancer Support after her mother Cathy and younger sister Sandra died from cancer. |
| She had fundraised for the charity for almost 20 years, cycling across Canada and undertaking other stunts such as abseiling and 24-hour cycle rides. | She had fundraised for the charity for almost 20 years, cycling across Canada and undertaking other stunts such as abseiling and 24-hour cycle rides. |
| She has also cycled across America and climbed Kilimanjaro. | She has also cycled across America and climbed Kilimanjaro. |
| But it was her "unimaginable grief" at losing all of her children that pushed her to cycle the length of Britain | But it was her "unimaginable grief" at losing all of her children that pushed her to cycle the length of Britain |
| In 2019, Granny Mave became the oldest woman to cycle from Land's End to John O'Groats, raising £75,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support and securing a Guinness World Record in the process. | In 2019, Granny Mave became the oldest woman to cycle from Land's End to John O'Groats, raising £75,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support and securing a Guinness World Record in the process. |
| The first time Mave got on a bike was at the age of six. | The first time Mave got on a bike was at the age of six. |
| She grew up with a love of running but switched to cycling in her fifties to spare her knees. | She grew up with a love of running but switched to cycling in her fifties to spare her knees. |
| She told BBC Radio Scotland's Mornings programme that she finds cycling therapeutic now. | She told BBC Radio Scotland's Mornings programme that she finds cycling therapeutic now. |
| "When I am cycling, I am really happy on my bike and I can even sing and enjoy myself." | "When I am cycling, I am really happy on my bike and I can even sing and enjoy myself." |
| Mavis plans her route for the month-long challenge | Mavis plans her route for the month-long challenge |
| While she is cycling she thinks about what she is doing and who it is for. | While she is cycling she thinks about what she is doing and who it is for. |
| "I think about Macmillan because they have lost millions due to Covid so they need the money and I am going to work hard on that bike and hopefully raise lots and lots of money. | "I think about Macmillan because they have lost millions due to Covid so they need the money and I am going to work hard on that bike and hopefully raise lots and lots of money. |
| Mave's latest challenge begins on Saturday and she will make her way up the west coast, down the east and back to Mull of Galloway by 28 May. | Mave's latest challenge begins on Saturday and she will make her way up the west coast, down the east and back to Mull of Galloway by 28 May. |
| She will be accompanied by a friend in a camper van and aims to cover 30 to 50 miles a day, with some rest days in between. | She will be accompanied by a friend in a camper van and aims to cover 30 to 50 miles a day, with some rest days in between. |
| Mave will travel up the west coast and down the east, through Fife and back to Dumfries and Galloway | Mave will travel up the west coast and down the east, through Fife and back to Dumfries and Galloway |
| She admitted she was a little nervous. | She admitted she was a little nervous. |
| "I just hope I don't fall at the first fence. It is a big, big challenge. | "I just hope I don't fall at the first fence. It is a big, big challenge. |
| "The training has been dreadful because the weather has been awful. | "The training has been dreadful because the weather has been awful. |
| "We will take it easy and have a lovely time. We will sing and listen to the birds singing too and just enjoy the beautiful sunshine," she laughed. | "We will take it easy and have a lovely time. We will sing and listen to the birds singing too and just enjoy the beautiful sunshine," she laughed. |
| Each day's journey will end with her favourite treat. | Each day's journey will end with her favourite treat. |
| "I'm a healthy eater but when I finish, I look forward to a glass of Merlot. | "I'm a healthy eater but when I finish, I look forward to a glass of Merlot. |
| "You have got to have something to look forward to, especially if it's a horrible wet day." | "You have got to have something to look forward to, especially if it's a horrible wet day." |
| Granny Mave doesn't think she is amazing, despite people telling her all the time | Granny Mave doesn't think she is amazing, despite people telling her all the time |
| Mave loves to see supporters along the way and has been met with shouts of encouragement and cheers. | Mave loves to see supporters along the way and has been met with shouts of encouragement and cheers. |
| She told BBC Scotland she would love people to cheer her on, but asks, "don't toot the horn." | She told BBC Scotland she would love people to cheer her on, but asks, "don't toot the horn." |
| "The last time someone did that I nearly fell off the bike" she laughed. | "The last time someone did that I nearly fell off the bike" she laughed. |
| Bruce Port, Macmillan's fundraising manager said: "Mavis is incredible. The challenges she sets herself are astounding and she has achieved some incredible things to raise money for Macmillan. | Bruce Port, Macmillan's fundraising manager said: "Mavis is incredible. The challenges she sets herself are astounding and she has achieved some incredible things to raise money for Macmillan. |
| "I know getting out on her bike helps her both physically and mentally, however it takes a huge amount of determination to achieve what she has. | "I know getting out on her bike helps her both physically and mentally, however it takes a huge amount of determination to achieve what she has. |
| "We are so thankful that she has picked Macmillan as the charity she wants to support. Mavis really is helping us to make a difference to those affected by cancer in Scotland." | "We are so thankful that she has picked Macmillan as the charity she wants to support. Mavis really is helping us to make a difference to those affected by cancer in Scotland." |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| John O' Groats | John O' Groats |
| Cycling | Cycling |
| Bereavement | Bereavement |
| Macmillan Cancer Support | Macmillan Cancer Support |