Cancer beater takes on Etape for charity
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A CANCER patient who underwent gruelling chemotherapy treatment just months ago is taking on a mammoth biking challenge in a bid to conquer the disease a second time.
Lorraine McCall signed up to Etape Loch Ness after realising the event would take place following her final chemotherapy session for breast cancer.
She wanted to have something to focus on to help her get back on her feet – and even though she has limited cycling experience, Ms McCall decided that training for the 66-mile event around the shores of the loch this Sunday would be just the tonic.
The 52-year-old will also be using the event to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support – the official charity partner of Etape Loch Ness – as a way of saying thank you for its help during her treatment and recovery not once, but twice.
She had already benefited from the support and advice of Macmillan when she was previously treated for cancer in 2012 – through operations and gruelling pelvic radiotherapy at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
Ms McCall, a trekking guide for Wilderness Scotland, thought that she had seen the last of the Macmillan-funded treatment suite after her last session, but found herself back there after discovering a lump on her breast last May.
"Although the treatment for breast cancer has lasted much longer, it was not nearly as bad as the first time around. I think that was the worst thing about it coming back – thinking that I would have to go through all of it again," said Ms McCall, of Conon Bridge.
"But Macmillan were absolutely fantastic throughout it all. They can provide information and leaflets about every type of cancer that you can think of, and the support that patients get at the unit in Raigmore is just tremendous.
"I signed up to take part in Etape Loch Ness because I was scheduled to have my last treatment session in January and I felt that having something to aim for a few months later would give me an incentive to get fit again.
"Training so far has been difficult because the weather has been challenging and I still need to build up my endurance, but I am determined to be there and to complete it. The route is beautiful, and I am really looking forward to it.
"I think Etape Loch Ness will be a wonderful event because of the fact that it is closed to other traffic. It is an absolutely stunning route, but it is not one that I would ever have even contemplated at any other time because it is such a busy road."
It is not the first time that Lorraine has proved her mettle as part of her recovery from cancer. In 2014 she embarked on an incredible four-month challenge to tackle all of Scotland’s Corbetts, walking around all 221 peaks.
As someone who has always led an active lifestyle, she believes that being in the great outdoors is helping her get over cancer and the subsequent treatment. The outdoors, she says, is good for the soul.
She added: "I find that being outdoors has really helped me, although I have learned lessons from last time about not doing too much too soon. I am just enjoying being free from the treatment and getting out and doing what I can, when I can.
"Throughout both my treatments Macmillan has been and fantastic source of support. It’s very important to me that I raise money for Macmillan because of my own experience, and for all those who have had the help of the charity either as a patient or as a family member."
To support her fundraising bid visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lorrainemccall
