Mega-fit gran, aged 81, cycles 960 miles across Britain in memory of children

Super-fit octogenarian Mavis Paterson is 81-years-old and is peddling her way across Britain from Land’s End to John O’Groats, in tribute to her children.

If she completes the 960-mile ride, the grandmother will become the oldest person to cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats and will enter the Guinness Book of Records.

The pensioner's cycle ride is motivated by her children, who were all aged in their 40s when they died suddenly within four years of each other.

Her son Sandy died first of a heart attack in 2012, then her daughter Katie got viral pneumonia and died in 2013. This was followed by her son Bob's death in an accident in 2016.

The grief she experienced three-fold, prompted her to get out of the house and get on her bike to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Mavis Paterson has said: "It’s impossibly hard going from being part of a family of five to being alone, but taking on challenges like this that keep me going."

Ms Paterson, who lives in Dumfries and Galloway, is “very grateful” to the Macmillan Fundraising Committee in Stranraer, where she lives, for always backing her "daft ideas".

She began her epic cycle from Land’s End on Thursday morning (30 May) and aims to reach John O’Groats on 20 June.

The 81-year-old will cycle as much as 60 miles a day with her youthful friend Heather Curley, aged 55.

The cycling duo will sleep in a campervan provided by tea cake maker Tunnock’s, which will follow them along the route with essential supplies and Tunnock’s tea cakes.

Prior to this mammoth cycle ride, the athletic grandmother of three completed a 24-hour cycle around Scotland’s North Rhins area.

After her mother and sister died of cancer, she peddled across Canada to raise money for the charity,

The 81-year-old cyclist has a target to raise £20,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support. She has so far raised £12,471 to date (30 May).

To donate money visit her fundraising page, visit justgiving.com