A group of five friends have pedalled for purpose after completing one of Britain’s toughest cycling challenges and raising more than £15,000 for Scottish charities.
Paula Cormack, Shona Robertson, Katie Butler, Claire Emslie and Lesley MacLeod – known collectively as the Prosecco Pedallers – completed their 1,000-mile Land’s End to John o’Groats cycle at the weekend.
The idea for the challenge was sparked over a glass of Prosecco after they accomplished the challenging ride from Aberdeen to Aviemore, including the infamous Lecht climb.
The group set their wheels in motion on Sunday, September 1 and cycled an average of 70 miles a day, climbing 57,750ft over 14 days.
They were joined on the first day through Cornwall by five-time Winter Olympian Graham Bell.
Combined, the ladies are raising money for charities close to their hearts – The Archie Foundation, Maggie’s, Camphill School, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation and Dementia Scotland, with the total sitting at £15,074.
The team hopes to transform their miles into meaningful change by rallying support and raising awareness for their chosen causes. The cyclists funded the trip themselves so every penny raised will support the charities.
The Prosecco Pedallers also received generous sponsorship from various companies, with their kit being sponsored by H&R Insurance Services, TEXO and Acturis Limited.
At the finish line at John o’Groats are (from left) Lesley MacLeod, Paula Cormack, Katie Butler, Claire Emslie and Shona Hamilton
Paula Cormack, who is chief executive of The Archie Foundation, recently completed the Coast 2 Coast cycle from Dumfries to Aberdeen and explained her motivation for completing this fresh challenge.
“For me, the incentive to embark on this challenge comes from the support that many families and children will be able to receive from fundraisers like this,” she said. “It was an amazing experience we’ll never forget but the motivation comes from knowing we are helping to raise money for charities that mean so much to us.
“At Archie, our aim is to ensure that all children throughout the north-east of Scotland have access to world class healthcare and bereavement support and I am delighted to have had the opportunity to raise both funds and awareness for The Archie Foundation so even more people will know that they can turn to us for help.”
After losing an eye to ocular melanoma in 2019, Katie Butler has been determined to give back to Maggie’s, which provided her with incredible support during her treatment, including pre- and post-operative counselling and help for her family.
The psychological and physical recovery was challenging, especially as she relearned balance. Cycling became a crucial part of her healing, helping her regain confidence and maintain both mental and physical health.
Katie, who celebrated her 50th birthday during the ride and is raising funds for Maggie’s, said: “By pushing our physical limits and defying health conditions, we hope to convey the message that regardless of age or ability, cycling is a sport for each individual and we hope to inspire more people to embark on similar challenges.”
Shona Robertson chose to support Camphill School Aberdeen, having witnessed the vital support provided to its residents and its ethos that every child and adult deserves a fulfilling life, regardless of disabilities.
Lesley MacLeod is also celebrating a milestone birthday this year and chose to push her boundaries and use the challenge to raise money for Dementia Scotland, following a recent diagnosis within her family.
Claire Emslie, the motivating force behind the challenge and the ‘leader of the pack’, wanted to take her passion for cycling to show her two daughters, and others, that even the hardest challenges can be overcome with a little bit of motivation and determination.
To support the team's fundraising efforts, visit www.archie.org/lejog