...also because, around the 20km mark I'll be so red that I will basically be a giant tomato and it'll only get worse from there, which would make her laugh a lot too.

Hello! Thanks for reading. I'm Lucy, on the right in the picture up there ^. On the left is my little (though not so little, as you can see!) sister Steph, who died last year from ovarian cancer. For the last 24 years I've been looking after her, taking advantage of her, bossing her around, worrying about her, giving her presents, laughing with and at her and generally feeling so lucky that I had a forever best friend that people don't always get.

There are a few reasons I'm taking on this challenge: 

Steph knew she was going to die, and we tried to speak about what she wanted. One of those things was for us to tell people what had happened to her, to raise awareness about those nightmares that can become a reality, and to encourage people to look after themselves and each other a little more. I really hope that I, and everyone taking part in this race, will do so - that people will see lots of crazy, amazing women cycling through the night and talk about why they're doing it.

With the theme of looking after myself (and Weff would be so pleased to hear she's had this effect) I've been thinking a lot more about my own health in the last 6 months. When someone that close to you dies, you have a sudden fleeting insight into your own mortality. The inevitability of your own death becomes clear, for a brief moment - I had that, and although that intimate consciousness has now passed, I've been inspired and motivated to try and make sure I live as long as possible! There were so many things Weff didn't get to do. Although it sounds silly, I feel like it is just incredibly unfair and that I have to try and do twice as much in her honour. Ride the Night will be one of those things, and hopefully with all my subsequent fitness, I'll live many more years and do other great things in them!

Finally, apart from talking about ovarian cancer in general, I also want to make sure I keep remembering and talking about Weff, so that she's still a part of my life. I'm finding it really difficult at the moment to do that very much, and I think this will help me. I'm going to have a lot of time to think whilst cycling 100km, and there won't be as many distractions as I'm able to find for myself in day to day life. Also, I'm sure I'll be crying and in pain anyway! So I'm really looking forward to cycling through a sunset and a sunrise across the city we grew up in, with thousands of inspiring women, and with my sister. 

The money we raise will go to Breast Cancer Care, Ovarian Cancer Action and Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust. When Steph was in hospital, we received lots of amazing support from charities and I hope this money will help make sure every family gets that. My wonderful aunt Susan is also taking part, and I'm cycling with her and 2 other ladies who have been personally affected by these cancers. Our team is the Midnight Cowgirls, please wave and cheer us on if you see us there! 

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