A charity fundraiser is getting back in the saddle to cycle through two South East Asian countries in memory of her late mum.
Gina Dalton, 37, from Didsbury, is taking on a 400km cycle challenge across Vietnam and Cambodia to raise money for three women’s cancer charities.
Gina, who is a marketing officer with Salford-based housing provider Salix Homes, is cycling in honour of her beloved mum Kathleen Dalton who died of breast cancer aged just 41, when Gina was only 10 years old.
It’s not the first time she has completed a gruelling charity cycle challenge, two years ago she rode across Cuba and raised £3,500, and is now ready to get back in the saddle.
She said: “I had barely even been on a bike before I took on the Cuban challenge, but my mum was a really keen cyclist so it seemed fitting to take up cycling in her honour.
“I’ve got the cycling bug now, so I’m really looking forward to getting back out there and raising as much money as I can for such fantastic charities.
“I know it’s going to be tough and I still miss my mum every single day, but I know she’s going to be there watching over me all the way.”
Gina sets off in November for the Women V Cancer cycle challenge where she will join a 100-strong team of women whose lives have all been touched by cancer.
The inspirational cyclists will ride for six days across the tough Vietnamese and Cambodian terrain, averaging 80km a day, to raise money and awareness for Breast Cancer Care, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust and Ovarian Cancer Action.
Gina has now embarked on a tough training regime and is hoping to raise more than £3,000 for the three charities.
She added: “March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month so I just want to raise as much money and awareness as I can for these three amazing cancer charities.
“I’ve held a series of fundraising events with my colleagues at Salix Homes including a cake bake and a sweet sale and I’d like to thank everyone who has sponsored me and supported me so far, but I’ve got quite a way to go yet till I reach my fundraising target.
“Growing up without my mum around was difficult for my whole family, but by taking on these cycling challenges I can turn that negative into a positive and help ensure other families don’t lose loved ones far too early in life like my family and I did.”
