Perthshire cancer survivor takes part in Chris Hoy cycling fundraiser
A Blairgowrie woman who was told five years ago she only had weeks to live is to take part in a 38-mile cycling challenge.
Louise Copeland was diagnosed with aggressive triple negative breast cancer in 2020.
She received the bleak weeks-to-live prognosis after chemotherapy failed and surgery and radiotherapy weren't options.
But an immunotherapy drug gave her a second chance – and she's defied doctors ever since.
In 2024 the cancer returned in her femur, during a break from immunotherapy, and she received a hip replacement last autumn.
Louise has since restarted immunotherapy and is to take part in Sir Chris Hoy's Tour de 4 fundraiser Riding Together Against Cancer on Sunday, September 7.
She said: 'It has been wonderful to get back on the bike and have a goal to train for.
'It has got me cycling further than I have ever cycled before in my life – even before cancer – so it feels like a real achievement to have got this far. I feel quite emotional too because I know I am so lucky to still be here and well enough, at the moment, to participate.
'It feels very special to be riding in the Tour de 4, not only for me to raise funds for Cancer Research but to also be participating in an event which is all about challenging perceptions around living with Stage 4 cancer and giving hope to those in a similar position.'
Fifty-three-year-old Louise is married to Tim and they have two children, Donald and Lucy.
Louise will be cycling with family and friends on the 37.9 mile route which starts and ends at Glasgow's velodrome.
She commented: 'I hadn't been on a bike for years, but I'd read somewhere that cycling was good physical therapy after hip replacement so I decided that the Tour de 4 would be an excellent target for my rehab.
'I started my preparations back in March, cycling a five-mile (8km) flat route at first to get me used to being on the bike again.
'Since then I have been cycling two to three times a week to gradually build my fitness on a range of routes with longer rides for endurance and hills for strength. :
And Louise went on to explain: 'Thankfully the Strathmore area offers some wonderful options for cycling.
'I also have been doing my homework of stretches and weights set by my amazing physio therapist who is helping me with rehab after my hip replacement.'
To donate to Louise's fundraiser visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/my-tour-de-4-fundraiser-to-fight-cancer-kv9fs
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