DESPITE failing her cycling proficiency at the age of 33, a member of Sirona’s Thornbury staff has signed up to one of the top sportive events in the country.

Mum-of-two Emily Denham has signed up to take part in the Lionheart Sportive, a 60 or 100 mile cycling challenge to raise money for the charity Positive Action on Cancer (PAC).

She has already clocked up 15 half marathons, one whole marathon and the ‘Nuts’ challenge – a 14 km SAS style assault course with 200 obstacles – but she said they have always been safe.

“I wanted to do something that would really push me, physically and mentally. I couldn’t ride a bike which has been the source of much hilarity and ridicule.

“I did my cycling proficiency at 33 and failed, in fact the instructor advised me not to bother. Her exact words were ‘did I really need to ride a bike?’.

“Frankly I am terrified. I cannot explain to you the dread that fills me when I get on one and I have no idea why.”

However, Emily, who is Sirona’s locality manager for the Community Learning Disability Team based in Thornbury, is nothing if not determined.

Since the summer she has learned to ride, first a bike with flat handlebars and fat tyres and has now progressed to a road bike.

She has also progressed to having special shoes attached to the bike although has not yet braved the road with them.

The event is in March and Emily hopes to raise as much as she can for PAC – the charity for which she is a trustee.

“It offers a professional one-to-one counselling service for anyone affected by a diagnosis of cancer or other life threatening illness; this includes any family, friends and carers as well as patients.

“My cousin died at 18 from a malignant melanoma and my children were very small. At the time PAC didn’t offer children’s counselling which would have helped my kids so much. So my motivation for supporting PAC was so that a children’s and young people service could be developed, which I am delighted to say is available now.

“We have fundraised for them for years; my 12-year-old daughter chopped of her hair to make wigs for children and raised £1,000.”

Emily, who is in a team of 10 from PAC to complete the Lionheart Sportive, has set herself a £500 target to make a donation visit https://www.justgiving.com/Emily-Denham5