A mum is cycling 450km to Paris in four days to fund a cure for her sister’s blood cancer.
Ros Wilson, from Bellshill, started the Myeloma UK London Paris Ride on September 26, aiming to raise funds for myeloma research.
Her sister Louise Greenbank was diagnosed with the incurable blood cancer in 2021.
The web developer will face steep ramps and sharp bends before reaching the Eiffel Tower finish line on September 29.
Ros said: "I had never heard of myeloma.
"I remember when Louise phoned me to tell me what it was.
"I said, ‘I’ve got your back but you need to fight’.
"And she had been fighting ever since.
"For me, it’s about funding a cure.
"I hope that others don’t go through what she’s going through."
The disease currently affects more than 24,000 people in the UK, including 2,000 patients in Scotland.
It is a relapsing-remitting cancer, meaning that although many patients will experience periods of remission following treatment, the disease will inevitably return.
Louise was diagnosed with myeloma in August 2021 after months of increasingly debilitating symptoms including rib pain and fatigue.
She had seen her GP three times, to no avail, and been admitted to A&E twice.
By the time her cancer was caught two days after her 46th birthday, Louise, of Uddingston, was in kidney failure, had a broken rib and holes, also known as lesions, in her hip, pelvis and lower back.
Ros has been fundraising for her sister and Myeloma UK through bake sales and other events.
When she saw the London Paris Ride advertised on Facebook, she immediately signed up.
She said: "I’ve never cycled any long distances before and road cycling was completely new to me, getting used to changing gears and being clipped in the pedals – I fell off my bike while clipped in.
"But I really wanted to do something that would help my sister."
She started training in February and has clocked up more than 1,000 training miles.
Ros said: "The donations that have kept coming in recently have kept me going.
"They will help to research and fund a cure for myeloma."
Her sister Louise has been in awe of Ros' strength and determination over the past few months.
She said: "When Ros said she was going to take part in the London Paris Ride, I was overwhelmed with pride and gratitude.
"Then I thought she was crazy.
"Cycling for four days!
"Seeing how she has and is training, the time it is taking away from her husband, daughter and beloved dog Arlo, I can’t express how much I appreciate all her efforts.
"This Ride, for me, is monumental.
"The whole family is behind her 100 per cent.
"She has days when the nerves kick in, which is natural, but we know she can do this.
"We are all so excited to watch her finish the Ride in Paris with all the other riders.
"It will be the most wonderful achievement."
Ms Wilson has already raised close to £6,000 towards a much hoped-for cure.
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