Cuba charity cycle for Melksham woman

Story posted on October 9, 2013

Diana Malling in preparation for her Cuban challenge.

SAINSBURY’S Melksham’s store trainer and PR ambassador, Diana Malling, is off to Cuba – not for a relaxing holiday on beautiful beaches though, but for an epic challenge whilst raising money for three women’s cancer charities. 

Diana said, “I will be cycling 400km in 5 days; they are consecutive days, with a group of 85 likeminded women. We all have our own reasons for doing this challenge and have our own fears to overcome. Some are getting over cancer and not even fully completed their treatment. One of the ladies in the group couldn’t even ride a bike before she signed up for the challenge but after losing her sister to breast cancer, decided she needed to do something; she learnt to ride a bike and is now set and ready for this challenge.

“I have spent the last 18 months fundraising and training. I think the fund raising has been harder than the training although some days when I have been out for five hours or more I am not too sure! I think I have been very lucky this year that the weather has been so good, it is so much easier to motivate yourself to go out when the sun is shining and it is warm – it is infinitely harder when it is cold, wet and windy.

“I am lucky to have had the support of my family and friends and really want to ‘do them all proud’. It is going to be much harder cycling in Cuba than here in the UK. The heat and the hills, as well as the 5.30am starts together with the moving to a different place every day, packing, unpacking and the arduous bus journey to get to the next place at the end of every day means you need to stay totally focused.

“It will be so worthwhile though, they are three great charities that do fantastic work and research; Breast Cancer Care, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust and Ovarian Cancer Action. Between all the groups we have raised over £1.5million.”

To sponsor Diana visit www.justgiving.com/DianaMalling