Moray woman with rare liver disease on “enormity” of UK cycling challenge
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A MORAY woman with a rare liver disease who is set to cycle the length of the United Kingdom for charity said she realises the “enormity” of the challenge.
Yvonne Marsay (54), who lives in Grange near Keith, will cycle unsupported from Lands End to John O’ Groats in August in aid of the British Liver Trust.
The British Liver Trust has supported Yvonne since she was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease called Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) five years ago.
The condition affects the liver and in turn muscles and strength. Despite that, though, Yvonne is determined to pedal more than 1300 miles for a cause close to her heart.
Yvonne, a retired nurse who now works in a Portsoy chemist, said: “My training is going well, but I'm starting to realise the enormity of cycling so far with Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) and all the auto immune muscle issues I have.
“But, hey ho, it wouldn’t be a challenge if it was easy!
“With support from my friends The Get Fit Buddies, my husband Adrian - who is teaching me bike mechanics - and some mountain bike lessons from Anna Riddell of Rideout, who is helping with my balance issues and confidence, it's all starting to come together.”
Yvonne and The Get Fit Buddies head out onto the roads every Monday and cycle around 70 miles to give her the necessary practice ahead of her big country-long ride.
While support from family and friends has been unwavering, Yvonne is taking on the cycle unsupported - meaning she will have no support car following her up the road.
On her practice so far, she said: “I had one major fail when a branch got caught my derailleur, smashing it to pieces.
“Luckily I was only a couple of miles from home so did the walk of shame back home as I was a tad embarrassed.
“This resulted in my first but important bike mechanic lesson, how to turn your bike from multiple gears to just one gear allowing you to limp back on a single gear rather than walking back which could have potentially be very many miles.
“This is one problem I will have to face on an unsupported challenge and is all part of the training. What can go wrong and how do I resolve things with no support.”
Yvonne hopes the cycle will raise awareness, as well as funds, for the British Liver Trust.
She added: “Liver disease isn't just linked to alcohol,” she said. “It's such a huge killer and nobody really talks about it. People die because of ignorance.
“It is the highest killer in the UK, and it is a silent killer, but there is a lot of stigma linked to it and linked to alcoholism.
“The British Liver Trust promotes better understanding for GPs and Doctors.”
To support Yvonne’s fundraiser, visit www.justgiving.com/page/yvonne-marsay-1710456923035
