An elderly woman from the Galloway region of Scotland has turned to cycling to cope with an unimaginable loss. Mavis Paterson, 85, cycled to heal from the loss of her three children, who died within a four-year period. She recently cycled 1,609 km across Scotland.
85-year-old Mavis Paterson with her bicycle. (Instagram/@maviscycle)
According to a BBC report, Paterson lost her son Sandy in 2012 to a heart attack, daughter Katie succumbed to viral pneumonia in 2013, and son Bob in an accident in 2016. All of her children were in their 40s at the time. their passage.
“If I didn’t have my bike, and that’s a terrible thing to say, I don’t think I’d want to live,” Paterson told CNN Sport. She added: “Losing the whole family, it’s just unbelievable. My daughter once said, because a friend of hers died, and she said, ‘Oh mom, imagine losing a child.’ I said, ‘I know. I couldn’t imagine it.’ All mine are gone.”
For her cycling adventure, Paterson would wake up early and set off on a ride across Scotland, covering up to 80km each day. During this physically exhausting journey, she also raised money for the British charity Macmillan Cancer Support.
Despite the severe tragedy she has faced, Paterson likes to take on challenges because these activities provide a therapeutic escape from pain. She is survived by three adult grandchildren.
“I think about them a lot, but I have to face life, so I accept challenges that are very helpful to me. The last one I did was wonderful because it took my mind off the kids,” Paterson told the BBC.
Throughout her journey, Paterson received support from fellow cyclists who joined her for parts of her ride, keeping her company and encouraging her. When she was about to finish the 1,609 km mark, there was already a crowd cheering her on. CNN reported that she celebrated her success with her granddaughter and a glass of merlot.
According to the BBC, Paterson’s love for cycling dates back to her childhood when she first got on a bike at the age of six. He has been raising funds for charity for nearly two decades, undertaking various stunts such as abseiling, 24-hour cycling and cycling across Canada and America. She also climbed Kilimanjaro. In 2019 she became the oldest woman to cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats or John o’Groats? and raised money for Macmillan Cancer Support. However, the current world record for this feat is held by Gina Harris of the United Kingdom.
“When I’m cycling I’m really happy on my bike and I can even sing and enjoy myself,” Paterson said during BBC Radio Scotland’s morning show.
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Source: newstars.edu.vn