A Dundee model is pedalling the length of Britain despite being a self-professed cycling novice.
Elaine Harris has taken on a mammoth 983-mile quest to cycle from John O Groats to Lands End.
Ms Harris admits to only having been on a bike “four times”, but will now be faced with cycling up to 80 miles a day for the next fortnight.
The mother-of-one’s efforts are raising funds to help send a dentist and optician to assist children in the African country of Cape Verde, where she used to live.
With just 50 miles under her belt at present, the model is only too aware of the scale of her challenge.
She said: “I’ve done about 50 miles at the moment, and that nearly killed me.
“I picked up a virus, so haven’t been able to carry out much training, but I’m feeling a bit better now. I am feeling quite nervous.
“Kids here (in the UK) sometimes take everything for granted but the children there have never seen a dentist or optician.
“My daughter, Nina, is four and has been giving me advice. When you’re a mum and see these kids it certainly pulls at your heart strings.”
Elaine has made trips to Cape Verde before to deliver Christmas presents and clothing.
She has been getting advice from family and workers from Broughty Ferry’s World Of Cycles.
Elaine said: “Everyone thinks I’m mad, but they have all been very supportive. This is the biggest thing I have done.”
A spokesman from Broughty Ferry’s World Of Cycles store, who helped sponsor Elaine, said: “When Elaine got in touch to let us know about her charity cycle trip to raise funds to help the kids in West Africa, we really wanted to help.
“Elaine is a novice cyclist and the task she has taken on is huge, it is the equivalent of running a marathon each day for 14 days.”
To donate to Elaine’s challenge or to find out more visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Cycleforcapeverde.
