News / Linda set for 1,000-mile cycle in memory of her late brother
A WOMAN from Unst is about to embark on a huge cycle of nearly 1,000 miles from London to Nice to raise funds for Macmillan in memory of her late brother.
Linda Mills, whose brother Lindsay Thomson lost his life to cancer a couple of years ago, sets off from London on Wednesday (31 August) and will cycle approximately 80 miles a day for a whole fortnight, via Paris and Geneva, before ending up in Nice.
Having already trekked the Inca Trail in Peru back in 2008, and cycled from Vietnam to Cambodia for Breast Cancer Care in 2011, Linda said this time she had “opted for something closer to home and to the heart”.
During her two weeks in the saddle, the 39-year-old expects to clock up a total of 966 miles “through the glorious landscapes of France and Switzerland, before descending through the Gorge du Loup into Nice”.
“For those not familiar with what 80 miles feels like on a push bike, it will take us around 6-8 hours each day,” she explained.
“When I signed up for this in May this year, I hadn’t even bought a bike, so had no idea how much pain and discomfort 80 miles can actually cause to a complete novice!
“But the Stonehaven Cycle Club kindly took me under their wing and got me cycling 100 miles in no time – made more appealing by the cheeky coffee and cake pit-stops, and the odd cold beer afterward!”
Her brother Lindsay would have been due to turn 59 in September. She greatly admired the strength and courage he showed during his illness, adding that he “just adored the Macmillan nurses that helped care for him dearly”.
Linda, who now lives and works in Aberdeen as an oil industry logistics coordinator, said she wanted to thank those in the Shetland community for their donations to enable her to meet her target.
The online tally so far sits at just over £5,500 towards a £6,000 target. You can contribute online via this link.
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