TWO Peeblesshire women are using pedal power to raise cash for cancer charities.

Peebles-based Sigrid Hunter and Tracy Short, from Cardrona, are undertaking a long-distance cycle challenge to fundraise for Women V Cancer.

The pair will embark on a 355km challenge from Milan to Venice in May, on a route that stretches along the southern edge of the Dolomites, Lake Iseo and Lake Garda, before passing through Verona to the finish line at the edge of Venice.

The women are riding for the charity Women V Cancer, which was set up in 2010 and raises funds for three female cancer charities Breast Cancer Care, Ovarian Cancer Action and Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust though a program of cycling challenges across the world.

The women are undertaking the challenge following their own personal experiences with cancer.

Sigrid explained: “For me I'm taking part because it’s been 10 years since I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was 38 at the time which felt very young.

“The cycle is a celebration of being healthy and proving that I can do this.

“It’s also a bit of a thankyou to the work that these charities to do for people with cancer.

“It is a chance to contribute to the research and support that these charities provide to others going through sometimes extremely tough times, and is a way to increase awareness for these three, predominantly female, cancers.”

Tracy added: “Having had cancer myself, I feel like the fundraising is giving back to the cancer charities.

"I've been cycling all my life, usually just for fun, but this will be the second one I do to raise funds for charity. I've cycled a lot in Europe before but have never been to Italy so I'm looking forward to it. We get a day to explore Venice at the end as well."

Sigrid said: “I’m quite new to cycling, I’ve had my road bike for around a year and a half. It was my husband who encouraged me really. We were trying to get a bit fitter so he encouraged me to do the Tour O The Borders with him.

“The cycle challenge is in May so we are getting our fundraising done now and we’ve already started training.

“At the moment I’m trying to jam in winter cycling, turbo training, some running and maybe a bit of swimming. It’s a good excuse to get a bit fitter."

Tracy added: "It's nice to be doing the challenge with someone else, its been good to have the companionship when training and we've been encouraging each other."

And with training well underway, the women are looking to raise some cash for the cause by hosting a Burns supper and ceilidh later this month on Saturday January 26 at Cardrona Village Hall.

A local piper will entertain guests along with a ceilidh band, a story teller and plenty of dancing. Food and a complimentary dram will be on offer and, of course, there will be the 'Address to the Haggis'.

Sigrid said: “We are hoping for a full house for a fun-filled night at Cardrona hall, so hope to see as many folk as possible there for the evening's entertainment.

“In the meantime we will continue to pedal Peeblesshire, come rain, sleet or wind in the effort to get our legs ready for the Italian hills, which will hopefully be less steep and a bit warmer!”

Tickets are £20 for adults / £5 for children. To book tickets, you can contact Sigrid and Tracy by email at sigridhunter@hotmail.co.uk or message them through the W4 Peeblesshire Facebook Page.

Donations to the women’s individual JustGiving pages can be made at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sigrid-hunter or https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tracy-short1.