Invergordon woman raises more than £1000 for Mikesyline mental health charity with 100-mile cycle ride
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The heart-breaking death of an Invergordon woman's mum inspired her to cycle 100 miles for Mikeysline in 24 hours - raising more than £1000.
Nikki Stoltman, who lost mum Sheila in 2016, said she wanted to celebrate her life while raising awareness of mental health issues.
The sister of world heavyweight champions Luke and Tom Stoltman she said: "In the winter my mood drops, things become a struggle and memories come back.
"At Christmas you’re meant to be with your family and celebrating, but there’s always one thing missing, and that’s my mum.
"The last three years of my mum’s life, she was full of happiness, strength and love for everyone. Seeing and being there, watching what my mum went through, watching her suffer, the pain [of cancer], the days when she barely had any strength but still found it in her to keep going, keep going for us.
"I took on the challenge in memory of my mum, and to help make people going through similar feelings, similar emotions know that it’s OK not to be OK.
"Mental health affects so many people, the happiest people you see struggle, the people that you think are the strongest people, they cry. They have days where they feel like giving up, but they don’t.
"And that’s what matters is that you just don’t give up.
Ms Stoltman explains that she suffered with an eating disorder for more than 10 years.
She explained: "To me, my eating disorder stole a big part of my life, it was in control of me and I wasn’t in control of anything. It affected my relationship with my family and friends – everything, day in, day out.
"I am so lucky in that I came out the other end, and I am who I am now. I haven’t let it ruin me, it could have ruined me.
"I was ashamed, I was embarrassed, afraid and angry. A lot of the time I didn’t understand what was going on, and I don’t know what it was, but something clicked inside my head and made me realise there’s nothing to be ashamed about, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about, it is what it is, it happened."
Ms Stoltman was joined in her fundraising by Jamie Collins.
Inverness charity, Mikeysline, was established in 2015 following the suicides of two close friends within days of each other, Mikey Williamson and Martin Shaw, both aged 23. It can be contacted on 07786 20 77 55.
Donations can still be made to Ms Stoltman's fundraising here
