Friday 29 March 2024
 5.7°C   SSE Gentle Breeze
Ocean Kinetics - The Engineering Experts

News / Linda set for 1,000-mile cycle in memory of her late brother

Linda Mills on a trip back to Unst with her bike back in June.

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.

Become a supporter of Shetland News

Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.

Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.

Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has  over 600 supporters  who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.

Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -

  • Bring you the headlines as they happen;
  • Stay editorially independent;
  • Give a voice to the community;
  • Grow site traffic further;
  • Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.

If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.

 
Categories

Newsletters

Subscribe to a selection of different newsletters from Shetland News, varying from breaking news delivered on the minute, to a weekly round-up of the opinion posts. All delivered straight to your inbox.

Daily Briefing Newsletter Weekly Highlights Newsletter Opinion Newsletter Life in Shetland Newsletter

JavaScript Required

We're sorry, but Shetland News isn't fully functional without JavaScript enabled.
Head over to the help page for instructions on how to enable JavaScript on your browser.

Your Privacy

We use cookies on our site to improve your experience.
By using our service, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

Browser is out-of-date

Shetland News isn't fully functional with this version of .
Head over to the help page for instructions on updating your browser for more security, improved speed and the best overall experience on this site.

Interested in Notifications?

Get notifications from Shetland News for important and breaking news.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Become a supporter of Shetland News

We're committed to ensuring everyone has equitable access to impartial, open and quality local journalism that benefits all residents.

By supporting Shetland News, you play a vital role in ensuring we remain a pivotal resource in supporting the community.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.