Bikers dressed in pink bras and vests will set off on a four-day ride around Scotland to raise money for a cancer charity.
The group of around 70 men and women will take part in the 450mile ride, leaving from Kilmarnock on May 23 and arriving in Glasgow on May 26. Along the way they will visit towns around Scotland, including Inveraray, Oban, Inverness and Tydrum.
All of the bikers, who hope to raise tens of thousands of pounds for Macmillan Cancer Support, will be dressed in pink, with the men wearing pink bras over their leathers.
One of those taking part is mum-of-three Wynn Taylor, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in December last year - just days after deciding to embark on the fundraising ride.
The 44-year-old Irvine woman said:
‘When I heard about Macmillan’s Breast Way Round ride I still hadn’t got my bike license but I thought it was a fantastic idea. It was only days later I found out I had cancer. I was devastated but still determined to take part. I passed my bike test in February and had a mastectomy the same month.
‘I’m still going through chemotherapy right now and sometimes I feel really ill and tired, but I’m going to take part in the first and last day of the ride. I’ll be covering about 200-miles so it will be hard but I’m determined to do it. I feel that taking on this ride shows that nothing is going to stop me. I’m still living my life even though I have cancer.’
The ride has been organised by Kilmarnock woman Shirley-Ann Barnes, 45, who decided to raise money for Macmillan after a friend was diagnosed with breast cancer. She said:
‘My friend couldn’t work because of her cancer and she almost lost her house because she couldn’t pay the mortgage. She only kept it because Macmillan gave her a grant. We were both so grateful to Macmillan that I decided to organise a fundraising event to help the charity.’
So far a fantastic 67 bikers have signed up to take part in Breast Way Round and there is no room for more riders – although they are all looking for sponsors.
Shirley-Ann said:
‘We have as many bikers as we can deal with now! Many of them have had cancer or know someone who has died from cancer, and they really want to help raise money for Macmillan. What we really need now is lots of sponsors to help us raise lots of money! We’ll be collecting money as we go through the towns so I hope people will donate to us. I don’t think anyone will be able to miss almost 70 bikers dressed in pink!’
Director of Macmillan Cancer Support in Scotland, Elspeth Atkinson said:
‘We are very grateful to everyone taking part in the ride. I would urge everyone to sponsor those taking part or to donate to them if they visit your town.’
For more information about the ride visit www.breastwayround.com