A WOMAN who lost her mother to a terrible muscle-wasting disease is taking on a 2,500 mile cycling challenge to raise funds for charity in her memory.
Beccy Roberts lost her mum Ellie in April 2012 to Motor Neurone Disease.
Mrs Roberts, 35, subsequently decided to support the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MND Association) by doing "something massive" to make a difference.
She decided to tackle a marathon cycle trip around the UK, peddling up to 100 miles a day.
On Sunday, she will set off from London's Trafalgar Square and finish 18 days later after touring the country.
The cyclist, who works in advertising, will be starting the penultimate day of her epic trip in Brentwood on August 27.
She invites other cyclists to join her on this day, starting from the high street.
"By the time I get to Essex I will probably be broken," she said.
"I wanted to go through Brentwood – I have friends there and know the area well and lots of them will be coming out to support me.
"I have cycled all over the county and it's a lovely area to cover."
After leaving London her route will take her down the south coast before travelling west to Cornwall, right across to Land's End, where she will then cycle to Bristol.
She will cut through Wales and continue north to Cumbria and Scotland cycling through the Highlands, around the Isle of Sky and up to the north of Scotland.
Mrs Roberts will then head down the east coast through to Newcastle.
Then her route will take her through Brentwood, then down to Dover and completing the route in Trafalgar Square.
She has been training hard and was cycling 450 miles a week, getting up at 5am to cycle the three and a half hours before work and three and a half after.
Help will be given during the trip in the form of her father, Will Roberts, 69, who will be providing the support car, a converted campervan, which he has put the logo MND Association logo on.
She said: "It's incredible how many people have been affected by the disease but how little is known about it – I wanted to make a noise.
"The disease is torturous for the person who has it and those around them.
"My husband has been very supportive and so has my father – he raised his eyebrow when he first heard what I was doing but he knows how serious I am about it now."
Mrs Roberts has set a fundraising target of £10,000 and is nearly half way there already.
To track Beccy Roberts' ride and to sponsor her on her journey visit www.becsbigbikeride.com
