THREE women bike riders who are all in their 50s cycled all the way from London to Paris for a cancer charity.

Remarkably, the £3,000 fundraising effort for Target Ovarian Cancer came after Sara Pardoe from Lydbrook underwent seven months of treatment for the disease, having been diagnosed just over a year ago.

Sara, 53, joined long-time Newent cycling buddies Geraldine Kirby-Waite, 53, also from Lydbrook, and Miranda Jenkins, 51, from Ross-on-Wye, on the epic 230-mile six-day ride, which was had its fair share of challenges.

Geraldine fell over in the street just before they set off, sustaining a black eye, cut legs and multiple bruises, while Miranda survived 230 miles using cleats, only to go over the handlebars due to a pannier malfunction just a mile from the Eiffel Tower finish.

The rain was so bad in places they were able to wring the water out of their socks, and other obstacles along the way included being mistaken for French ‘gilet jaune’ yellow jacket protestors, discovering that their bike-friendly GPS routes included mud tracks, gravel and forest paths leading to two punctures, and horrendous colds for two of them.

The trio have ridden together for 17 years since their children started going to school, and last year did the 100km overnight Nightrider event in London together, spurring them on to plan the Paris ride.

But just weeks later, Sara received her diagnosis that she had ovarian cancer.

“Receiving the diagnosis last year that I had ovarian cancer was devastating,” she said. “Along with Geraldine and Miranda, I had been planning my next cycling adventure and we were already discussing dates for our London-Paris challenge.

“Despite the treatment, I was determined not to let the cancer stop me from achieving something that I had always wanted to do.

“So as soon as I was well enough to get back on my bike, I was out in the Forest and on the roads, clocking up the miles so that I could regain my fitness.

“It was a fabulous and truly moving experience for the three of us, with a triumphant finish, and cycling down the Champs-Elysee was the highlight for me.” 

The riders wanted to raise money to both fund research into the disease and spread awareness of the symptoms of the often difficult to spot illness.

Throughout Sara’s treatment and recovery, training for the challenge became a key motivator in regaining her health and improving her fitness.

It was the thought of getting back in the saddle that kept her strong and positive, and her strength of character saw her cycling again only weeks after major surgery.

The trio set off in London on September 22 and completed their ride on September 27, passing through Versailles and into Paris before cycling around the Arc de Triomphe and down the Champs-Elysee to the Eiffel Tower.

Sara needed to spend another two weeks in hospital after returning home, but is now feeling fine again.

She said: “Ovarian cancer is one of the most difficult cancers to spot. Many women don’t realise they have the disease until the cancer is in later stages, as many of the symptoms can be put down to other things.

“One of the most important reasons we took on this cycling challenge was to raise awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer, so that more women know what to look for, and that more cases can be diagnosed early.”

More information about the signs and the symptoms of ovarian cancer can be found on the Target Ovarian website at www.target ovariancancer.org.uk

Women should see their GP for advice if they experience any of the following symptoms – persistent bloating, feeling full quickly and/or loss of appetite, pelvic or abdominal pain, and urinary symptoms.

To donate to support the work of Target Ovarian Cancer, the trio have a fundraising page at www.justgiv ing.com/fundraising/saragermiranda