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Black Isle pit stop for hardy Mavis (81) making epic Land's End to John o' Groats cycle in poignant tribute to her children


By Hector MacKenzie

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Mavis Paterson
Mavis Paterson

A HARDY pensioner whose three adult children all died within four years of each other took a welcome overnight break on the Black Isle this week en route to a remarkable pedal-powered feat.

Mavis Paterson (81) is closing in on a £20,000 fundraising target for Macmillan Cancer Support – and a new record for the oldest female to complete the gruelling Land's End to John o' Groats ride on a bike.

The challenge is in memory of her three adult children who died four years apart from each other: Sandy in 2012, Katie in 2013 and Bob in 2016. All of them were in their 40s.

Mavis suffered unimaginable grief but received wonderful support from friends and relatives. She declares herself very grateful to the Macmillan Fundraising Committee in Stranraer who have always been a constant support for her and have always backed her "daft ideas".

Mavis, whose maiden name MacDonell, has plenty of Ross-shire connections to ponder as she pedals through the county – and is second cousin to Susy Cooper (also nee MacDonell), at whose home in Balblair on the Black Isle she enjoyed an overnight stay this week.

Their great grandfather from Cuaig was a drover and doubtless familiar with the infamous Bealach na Ba pass from Applecross.

Susy's husband Charles said: "Both great-grandparents walked from Cuaig to settle in Inverness. Susy's grandparents were in service in Nairn. As chauffer, her grandfather also had a second job, that of driver/fireman in Invergordon. He used to take the ferry from Fort George to Chanonry Point, cycle over Mount High, enjoy a pint in the Ferry Inn and then take the ferry to Foulis. It's in the genes!"

It was another cousin from the MacDonell clan, a keen genealogist, who made the initial contact with Mavis around 20 years ago. Shortly after, Susy met Mave, as they is fondly known, when she stopped with the Coopers when they owned Hillockhead Farm Cottages on the Eathie Road.

From left to right Vivienne (driver), Heather Curley (co-ordinator) and Mavis Paterson as they set off from Ferry House in Balblair back to her cycling starting point for the day in Dingwall.
From left to right Vivienne (driver), Heather Curley (co-ordinator) and Mavis Paterson as they set off from Ferry House in Balblair back to her cycling starting point for the day in Dingwall.

Charles recalled: "Mavis was completing various sections of her project to cycle round the entire coast of Britain. She'd cycled from Golspie and we were suitably chastised for not mentioning the hill out of Cromarty and the hill from Navity passing the radio mast!"

While Mavis lives at Luce Bay in Dumfries and Galloway, she keeps regular contact with the Coopers.

Mavis is being accompanied by her friend, Heather Curley, who is keeping a close eye on her wellbeing.

Mr Cooper said: "The team are due to arrive in John o' Groats on Saturday. I have absolutely no doubt she will make it and in doing so boost what they have so far collected for MacMillan Cancer Support.

Mavis's justgiving page can be found at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mavis-paterson1


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