The tenth anniversary of a cancer charity’s fundraising drive will be all the more poignant for Dundee man John Beales.
His wife Ruth was due to cheer him on as he took part in Maggie’s Monster Bike and Hike but she lost her battle with cancer in October.
She was originally diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000 and bravely fought the disease for more than a decade with support of Maggie’s Dundee. Now John will complete the 72-mile charity challenge in his wife’s honour.
He said: “I was to take part in the gold challenge while Ruth was to come along as part of the support team.
“Following Ruth’s recent death I now feel I have stronger and even more compelling reasons to complete our plan. I will now be honouring her memory.
“I have joined ‘The Very Sore Team’ and maintain connections with Maggie’s Dundee, who meant so much to Ruth.”
The couple were second marriage newlyweds and lived with Ruth’s cancer throughout their relationship.
John said: “We shared, laughed and loved every moment to enrich our lives, despite cancer being with us from the outset.
“Our time together was filled with wonderful experiences, outdoor life, travel and adventure knowing that we would not have forever together.”
Ruth was told her cancer had become advanced in August 2009 and in late 2010 she met Maggie’s staff and joined the advanced breast cancer group.
John said: “Joining Maggie’s started new understanding and friendships, it also enabled Ruth to help and reassure others in fear or suffering from advanced breast cancer.”
Ruth even featured in the Tuesday’s documentary, which followed a support group held at Maggie’s Dundee for people with secondary cancer as they came to terms with living with limited time.
John added: “Ruth was being kept alive via chemotherapy and our ability to cope with the emotional and psychological effects of the disease was hugely assisted by the expert support from Maggie’s.
“Without this help the journey towards Ruth’s looming death would have been lonelier and quite unbearable for us both.”
Maggie’s Monster Bike and Hike takes place on May 4 and 5 on the Great Glen Way between Fort William and Inverness.
The 24-hour challenge, which has so far raised more than £4.5 million for Maggie’s, was officially launched last week by Great British Bake Off finalist James Morton.
Medical student turned TV star James has signed up for Monster and even baked a cake to help Maggie’s celebrate the event’s birthday.
He said: “I had heard about some of the amazing work that Maggie’s do through my studies, and my dad had mentioned years ago about Monster.
“So this year a few friends and I decided to sign up because not only would we be helping raise money for an incredibly worthwhile cause, we knew it would also be a fantastic and challenging event to take part in.
“We are really looking forward to it and can’t wait to get out amongst the amazing Scottish scenery and to enjoy what I have been told is a fantastic atmosphere.”
All teams participating cycle 31 miles and then walk to the bronze finish, 9 miles, the silver finish, 23 miles, or the gold finish, 41 miles.
John Beales is taking on the toughest challenge and hopes to raise more than £400.
Maggie’s events manager George Bushell said: “Monster is always an extraordinary event with a phenomenal atmosphere and a uniquely Maggie’s feel about it.”