FAMILY and friends of a ‘much-loved’ married mother-of-two from Solihull have cycled the length of the country to raise money for cancer charities in her memory.
A team of eight mixed ability cyclists took on the mammoth Jon O’Groats to Land’s End challenge in memory of Linda ‘Lin’ Hampshire, who passed away from a rare form of aggressive womb cancer.
The group, made up of Lin’s family and friends, took 12 days to complete the 1,000 mile trek – raising over £10,000 for the Eve Appeal and Target Ovarian gynecological cancer charities.
Described as a ‘fun loving, positive person’, avid skier and dog lover, Lin was diagnosed with uterine serous carcinoma, a rare form of womb cancer, in late August 2014 after experiencing stomach and hip pain.
With a CT scan confirming the family’s worst fears, the former Administrative Assistant at Solihull Council’s Adult Learning Disability Services passed away at the end of October 2014 – just a week after receiving chemotherapy, and a month before her 53rd birthday.
Speaking about the team’s inspiration to undertake the challenge, Lin’s husband, Adrian Hampshire said it was her bravery and positivity illness which kept the team going.
He added: “She was courageous throughout her battle with cancer and kept smiling despite multiple setbacks.
“By raising money for Target Ovarian Cancer and The Eve Appeal, we hope to help women like Linda, and contribute funds for research into the early detection of gynaecological cancer.”
But, it was not an easy ride – with the the Scottish ‘summertime’ giving the cyclists a wet and windy ride.
Lin’s daughter, Becky, who was one of the eight cyclists said: “The awful summertime weather in Scotland meant that it rained for days and at one point one of the cyclists was literally blown off her bike.
“We could never have imagined that we’d raise over £10 000.
“I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has sponsored us – we have been overwhelmed by your generosity, and the money raised has certainly made the hilly, rainy, 1,025 mile ride worthwhile.”
