Eddleston woman cycles to success from John O'Groats to Land's End

President of Eddleston SWI and the village's Horticultural Society, Jo Oliver decided to take up the event to honour several friends she lost to cancer.

The 55-year-old started her 1,007 mile cross-country journey together with 29 other women from John O'Groats on Friday, September 8, and pulled into Land's End on Wednesday, September 20.

Smashing her £3,000 target, Jo has so far managed to raise £3,569.26, with the money collected to be split between three cancer charities; Breast Cancer Care, Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust and Ovarian Cancer Action.

To keep friends and family informed of her journey, the mum of three launched a blog in the form of a daily diary to document each day on the road.

Jo told the Peeblesshire News: "The charities lie at the heart of why I signed up for this challenge in the first place. All three focus on providing support and information to women fearing or receiving a positive diagnosis of cancer, and as such provide a lifeline when the world seems to have been tipped upside down.

"I've lost several friends to cancer, and I found this event the best way to honour them.

"It is, without doubt, the hardest challenge I have ever taken on, and that I am ever likely to take on. I was ready for it to be physically challenging, but not for the cumulative sleep deprivation, nor for the huge emotional element that comes from tackling this sort of thing, with 29 other wonderful women all with their own stories to tell of how cancer has touched their lives.

"We battled the elements each day, including the final stretch to Land's End. The visibility was so restricted, it wasn't clear where the actual finish line was.

"Upon competing the challenge, we became an elated throng with everyone hugging, kissing, and bubbly being sprayed. It was all slightly surreal, with disbelief and relief etched on many faces.

"I could not have got across the line without their support and that of all the people who sponsored me and cheered me on."

She added: "My three children, Rebecca (23), Susannah (22), Matthew (18) and my husband Ian, have also been hugely supportive of this latest endeavour, particularly Ian who cycled miles and miles with me during the training phase.

"I am enormously grateful of the support I've received, people have been so good to me. Thanks to everyone who has donated."

Born in Warwickshire, Jo moved to Edinburgh in 1984, before moving to Eddleston around ten years later in 1994.

To visit Jo's blog, go to: www.end2endwithjo.wordpress.com, and to donate, head to: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jooliverend2end