Next stop Paris for HSV's Fund Raising Cyclist
Julie Grace will be cycling 480km from London to Paris this summer but the challenge to raise money for charity Macmillan Cancer Support will be tinged with sadness.
Julie (28) was hoping that her mum, who was suddenly diagnosed with untreatable cancer last July, would be there under the Eiffel Tower to meet her as she completed the marathon event. But time was not on their side for just weeks after deciding to compete in the fund raiser and only a month after the original diagnosis her mum Alison (52) died.
Julie, a marketing executive at Hertfordshire Sports Village, said: “My mum had just turned 52 a week after being told that not only did she have cancer, but that there was nothing anyone could do.
“I was with my mum when she was diagnosed and as much as possible from that point on, I tried to put milestones for her to focus on so I made her the promise that I would cycle to Paris for Macmillan in 2010 and the aim was that she would be waiting for me as I cycled the last stretch up to the Eiffel Tower.
“Neither of us knew that time was extremely against us at that point. Macmillan were very much involved and the nurses were exceptional. So, I am doing the ride in her memory, to help others and also to thank Macmillan for the support they gave us.”
Julie is hoping to raise £2,500 for the charity during the four day sponsored ride which starts on August 18 - the day before the first anniversary of her mum’s death. Her biggest donation so far has been £200 from the actor and comedian David Walliams who decided to sponsor her after the family wrote to him seeing if he could meet her mum, who was a big fan of his, but she died before a visit could be arranged.
Julie has been busy training in the run up to the event. She teaches spinning classes at the sports village, goes running once a week as well as attending a weekly weights and conditioning class.
She said: “ I just love cycling – whether that is challenging myself and others in a spinning class or just being out on the road. I also love the challenge of a huge hill climb especially when we are out and about in the Peak District. “I’ve never done anything like this before and the thing I’m worried about most is becoming saddle sore!”
Anybody interested in making a donation should visit Julie’s fundraising page at
www.justgiving.co.uk/Julie-Grace
