Ross-shire businesswoman inspired by late mum saddles up for Maggie's Highland challenge
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A ROSS-SHIRE businesswoman inspired by her late mum to tackle a gruelling fundraising challenge for a cancer charity is urging others to dig deep after it was dealt a sickening blow.
Heather MacRae (48) took on a 500km cycle challenge for cancer charity Maggie's Highland in memory of her mum and best friend, Jay, whose inspirational support encouraged her to follow her dreams.
The former Fortrose Academy pupil, a well-known face as owner of the Dingwall Wimpy, the most northerly franchise in the UK, had barely ridden a bike before taking to the saddle – but smashed the target with a a week to spare and discovered a new passion in the process.
Her delight – raising £640 and losing two stones into the bargain – was soured by the disappointment of hearing that the lifeline cancer centre had been forced to close after being broken in to and vandalised over the weekend.
She said: "The vandalism at Maggie's Highland was appalling. I hope my story will help. I would like to see people support the justgiving page it has set up since the vandalism."
Starting to cycle to keep fit when the coronavirus lockdown hit in March, she then spotted the challenge to pedal 500km in the month of August to raise funds for Maggie's.
Ms MacRae, who has taken on a variety of different charity challenges down the years, said: "Some people thought I was mad. Pre-lockdown, life was so busy. There was not enough time. I have come to realise that you have got to live for today because you are not guaranteed tomorrow. I thought it was 10 years since mum died so I decided to do it."
Her mum Jay, who was from the Black Isle and worked in a solicitor's office in Dingwall, defied doctors who gave her six weeks to live when she was diagnosed – heartbreakingly on her daughter's birthday.
But her spirit and determination saw her outlive that by 18 months, giving her family the priceless gift of more precious time with her.
She was just 57 when she died.
Ms MacRae said: "She was only 19 years older than me so truly my best friend. She helped so much when I was setting up the restaurant, typing business plan drafts and posting them to me in Aberdeen in the days before email! We always walked together holding hands. I had this photo on her bedside for the three weeks she spent in the hospice. I just wanted the nurses to know the real person she was."
She hailed the backing of her "top supporter", husband Christopher who works for BT. And she thanked her "brilliant staff" who encouraged her and helped the the Wimpy back up and running as it returned first with takeaways and then participated in the hugely successful Eat Out to Help Out campaign last month.
She says many visitors to the town are tickled to see a Wimpy which sparks a wave of childhood nostalgia for many.
She added: "My local regulars who come in every week of the year are more like family to me than customers. They are so pleased to have us back and I am so happy to see them."
Her new-found passion for cycling now sees her happily churning out 50km runs. "I have a mile-long grin some days," she said.
The Maggie's justgiving page can be found via its Facebook page.
