We four are living proof that resolutions should never be made either in an alcohol-induced stupor or with the shadow of a 'large' birthday looming when a woman's mind can become slightly unhinged...

Save for our super fit pal Brenda, a spin instructor at David Lloyd, Jenni, Josie and I are not what you might consider ideal candidates for a 500 km cycle challenge in deepest darkest Asia.

And yet, here we are just weeks away from what is ironically being referred to as 'the ride of our lives' - a cycle trek from Vietnam to Cambodia which I fear we may remember for all the wrong reasons.

The terrain will be tough, the weather will be fierce and our bodies will be battered with no less than eight hours a day in the saddle for five consecutive days.

In addition to all our training at David Lloyd and on the roads around our homes in the Dundee and Angus area, we are in the midst of a vicious vaccination programme which is reeking havoc with our festive social lives. (I've found to my cost that multiple 'jags' and Christmas drinks is a potent cocktail....).

Gym regulars will recognise us as the 'swots' slumped in the saddle for that extra hour after the spin class ends. And for anyone who sees us hobbling around the gym after training, no, we haven't had an 'accident' in our shorts, our butts are just really, really sore.

At the group induction event we were exposed to knowledge no woman should ever have to learn: the merits of chamois cream on your nether regions, why you must NEVER wear pants and (my favourite) how to apply blister pads to your saddle sores before they become septic.

But, and here is where we hope you might have some sympathy for us...we're doing all this for a really good cause.

Every penny we raise for Marie Curie Cancer Care, the charity which provides free professional nursing care to the terminally ill at home, will be spent in this postcode area to help local families.

Just £20 'buys' one hour of care for someone who wants to spend the last weeks of their life at home surrounded by the people and things that make them feel most comfortable.

Our nurses care for any individual who is terminal with any diagnosis - be it cancer, heart disease, motor neurone disease, dementia - anything.

The one thing all our patients have in common is the desire to be at home at the end of life.

For many of you who have been touched by terminal illness, you will know how precious this gift is and what it can mean to entire families, not just the patient.

Brenda, Jenni and I are not new to Marie Curie. Many of you will remember us walking the West Highland Way together in 2010 and then later climbing Ben Nevis for the charity.

Josie, a community pharmacist, is a new edition to our Marie Curie Team and a very welcome one at that. (I, for one, may need a medical expert on hand for the sore bits/dodgy tummy/mosquito bites).

So whilst many of you are enjoying your festive frivolities, please think of us and either put a penny in our can at the DL reception or lodge a penny here to support us and your local Marie Curie nursing service.

We know times are tough but your generosity can really make a difference to families in need at this time of year.

Already from this event we have raised close to £12,000 together which will 'buy' 600 hours of free, high-quality hands on care for an individual in this postcode area in their final days.

This is our last push and we hope you'll tell us "Get on your bike!" before we set off on January 18.

Petra McMillan

Patron, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Dundee & Angus.

www.mariecurie.org.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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