A MUM-OF-TWO – who had a cancer scare five years ago – is cycling 450km across Vietnam and Cambodia to raise funds for three women’s cancer charities.

Although the cycle isn’t until next November Lara Adams, of English Bicknor near Coleford, is kick-starting her fundraising with a shopping evening at Forest Hills Golf Club tonight (Wednesday) at 6.30pm.

Last year the 40-year-old cycled 450km across Cuba and raised £4,100 for Jo Cervical Trust, Ovarian Cancer Trust and Breast Cancer Care.

She said: “In 2010, after a routine smear test, I was diagnosed with carcinoma in situ of the cervix. While it was not full blown cancer I still underwent treatment and afterwards I wanted to give something back to a charity that had helped me through a tricky time of my life. In 2014 I cycled across Cuba to raise money for the same charities and am now raising funds again.

“Some say this is my mid-life crisis but the work these charities do is phenomenal. Jo Cervical Trust was a charity that provided me with advice and support. They work tirelessly to raise awareness, promote cervical screening and support woman who have had abnormal smear results. I heard about the Cuba cycle through a flyer they sent me.

“I am not particularly fit and hadn’t been on a bike for 20 years but something stopped me recycling the flyer. I found the tranquillity, peace and head space cycling gave helped my recovery as much as any medicine or doctor could.

“Cancer is a disease that does not discriminate and recovery is not just physical but mental. I needed time and space to get my head around that, this challenge was giving me that and also proving my worth by pushing my limits and raising money for three fabulous charities.

“A year of intense training flew by and I was now cycling 30 miles without really thinking about it and then the occasional 50 mile route. It took me five days to cycle it but it has spurred me on to undertake further fundraisers.”

To sponsor Lara’s cause visit www.justgiving.com/LaraAdams