Courier health reporter Marjory Inglis was one of those who took on the Maggie’s Monster Bike and Hike challenge at the weekend, cycling and walking her way to a gold medal for completing the longest route. Here, she pays tribute to some of the others who took on and tamed “The Monster”.
A Monifieth schoolboy and his dad took themselves to the limit at the weekend and then passed out.
Those of us who took part in the Maggie’s Monster Bike and Hike, a 24-hour endurance event covering 73 miles between Fort William and Inverness, know just how 17-year-old Cameron Stephen and his dad Les felt. We are all fine now, with medals round our necks.
The doctor describes the symptoms of blood pressure going through the floor and plummeting core body temperature as “vasovagal”. The body has kept going on a mixture of adrenaline and determination, then decides it has had enough and shuts down. You go white as a sheet, feel sick and collapse.
For Les who was diagnosed with cancer for the second time earlier this year that point came when he hiked into the bronze stage at Invermoriston, having cycled 30 miles and hiked for eight.
Les, backed by his family and friends, took part in the Monster to support the centre in Dundee that has helped him and his family during his diagnosis and treatment. When he and his mates signed up for the challenge they named their team The Monifieth Men.
Cameron wanted to join them but is not 18 the minimum entry age until next week. His mum Jackie, who spent much of the weekend in tears as she cheered on her men, explained that organisers were persuaded to bend the rules and let her boy prove he was a man.
They had the backing of Tracey Curry, Dundee Maggie’s fund-raising co-ordinator, my team-mate for the hike and a good woman to have on your side.
“We made numerous phone calls to the organisers and Tracey intervened,” Jackie said. “They relented and let him in because of the circumstances.”
Cameron proved it was the right decision, going all the way to the gold finish at Inverness before, like his dad, he experienced total shutdown.
An emotional Jackie said, “What an experience. I have never cried so much in my life. I am the luckiest woman alive.”
The event is a roller-coaster of emotion as everyone who takes part has cancer or has a relative or friend who is battling the disease or has lost their fight.
My motivation was my friend Gwen, who was with me in spirit all the way. She has no map and no distance to the finish for her cancer journey.
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In a similar position is Perth mother-of-two Tanya Hay, who finished a course of treatment for breast cancer just two weeks before she picked up a silver medal with husband Grahame.
She inspired the Monster participants at the pre-event pasta party with the story of her cancer journey, as did Ian Gillan from Anstruther and his team of Fifers.
Tanya who celebrated her 13th wedding anniversary with Grahame on Monday said, “He said the best present he could ever get was this weekend, doing this cycle and walk with me and just having me alive.”
My personal hero was Corporal Craig Marsden, who I met through Monster and who helped me “crack on” after the sunlight hours were behind us and the long hours of darkness on a moonless night stretched out ahead.
En route I got a boost by bumping in to Bruce Tasker, whose dream was fulfilled when over 100 people signed up to support Dundee Maggie’s. Most importantly, the man makes me laugh with his brilliant impressions of Gary, Tank Commander.
Thanks too to Hugh Ferrier from the Territorial Army’s Oliver Barracks in Dalkeith Road, Dundee, who burst my blisters and strapped up my feet so I could carry on walking and was the support crew, with Mark Lamb, for Tracey’s Trekkers.
Finally, huge respect to Tracey, who has the job of raising £400,000 a year to keep Dundee Maggie’s running. The centre is kept open and supports cancer patients entirely on donations. Too busy working to find a lot of time for training, Tracey survived a tumble off her bike and collected a bronze medal, while her partner Jon Marsh went on to silver.
We are all richer for the experience but don’t ask me to do it again next year!
In a similar position is Perth mother-of-two Tanya Hay, who finished a course of treatment for breast cancer just two weeks before she picked up a silver medal with husband Grahame.
She inspired the Monster participants at the pre-event pasta party with the story of her cancer journey, as did Ian Gillan from Anstruther and his team of Fifers.
Tanya who celebrated her 13th wedding anniversary with Grahame on Monday said, “He said the best present he could ever get was this weekend, doing this cycle and walk with me and just having me alive.”
My personal hero was Corporal Craig Marsden, who I met through Monster and who helped me “crack on” after the sunlight hours were behind us and the long hours of darkness on a moonless night stretched out ahead.
En route I got a boost by bumping in to Bruce Tasker, whose dream was fulfilled when over 100 people signed up to support Dundee Maggie’s. Most importantly, the man makes me laugh with his brilliant impressions of Gary, Tank Commander.
Thanks too to Hugh Ferrier from the Territorial Army’s Oliver Barracks in Dalkeith Road, Dundee, who burst my blisters and strapped up my feet so I could carry on walking and was the support crew, with Mark Lamb, for Tracey’s Trekkers.
Finally, huge respect to Tracey, who has the job of raising £400,000 a year to keep Dundee Maggie’s running. The centre is kept open and supports cancer patients entirely on donations. Too busy working to find a lot of time for training, Tracey survived a tumble off her bike and collected a bronze medal, while her partner Jon Marsh went on to silver.
We are all richer for the experience but don’t ask me to do it again next year!