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A Yorkshire mum is taking on a gruelling challenge in a crusade to raise more than £10,000 for charity in memory of two special friends.
Sponsored by cycling-wear brand Fat Lad At The Back (FLAB), determined Gemma Towell of Cowling will be cycling an incredible 10,000 miles this year in aid of Beefy’s Charity Foundation, which supports those with chronic illnesses.
The challenge follows a testing three years for Gemma after seeing three of her friends and work colleagues battle with cancer.
It started with her close friend Tina Leake who received the devastating diagnosis of breast cancer in 2012 aged just 33. Shortly afterwards, her two co-workers David Durkin, 60, and 38-year-old Phil Tunney died of cancer after a short battle with the disease.
Mum-of-one Gemma explained: “I was heartbroken to see the suffering and pain of all three of my friends and their families. I just felt helpless, all I could do was stand by and watch. I have a lot of anger towards cancer and I wanted to put all of this built up hurt to good use and so decided to use it to fuel my fund-raising efforts.”
During her journey, Gemma has been supported by Fat Lad At The Back and has also become an ambassador for the brand after meeting on Facebook when the company was on the scout for volunteers to model its cycle wear.
Her most recent challenge will see the determined 37-year-old travel from John O’Groats to Land’s End in just eight days on her own and with no support team on July 25.
Sponsor Gemma on her journey here .
