Taking up cycling a little over three years ago and losing five stone in the process has prepared a science technician from Baldrine for her longest cycle ride yet - 1000 miles in aid of Age Concern Isle of Man. 47-year-old Mary Watson, who works at Isle of Man College, will be setting off from her home in Baldrine Road where she lives with her husband and two daughters in August to cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats, funding the 19-day challenge herself and cycling around 80 miles a day on her bespoke Hetchins bicycle with a group on a tour organised by UK cycling holiday specialist Saddle Skedaddle. By her own admission, prior to 2007 Mary would not have been fit enough to undertake such an epic journey. ‘I took no exercise, was a size 20, weighed 15 stone and had a BMI (body mass index) of 32,’ said Mary who now weighs just 10 stone and is a size 10. ‘When I was offered the job at Isle of Man College in 2007 I began an exercise regime by cycling part of the way to work about three times a week. I started to lose weight so kept up the cycling. I feel so much fitter now and in summer I regularly cycle about 200 miles a week.’ Mary, who has lived in the Island since she was 15, went on a cycling holiday from Liverpool to Lowestoft last year - a ‘pilot’ for this year’s 1000-mile trip - covering the furthest she had cycled in a day, between 60 and 80 miles, stopping in bed and breakfast accommodation and discovering, she said, ‘the joys of youth hostels.’ Explaining her reason for choosing to raise money for Age Concern she said: ‘When my mother-in-law, who’s 84, developed Alzheimer’s disease Age Concern was very helpful, in particular the advice and information service.’ Mary added that she hopes to cycle further than ‘just’ to John O’Groats. Instead she will be aiming for Dunnet Head, the most northerly point in mainland Britain. To sponsor Mary contact Age Concern Isle of Man business development consultant Carole Male, carole.male@ageconcerniom.com, telephone 613044, or call in or write to Age Concern Isle of Man, 19 Drinkwater Street, Douglas, IM1 1AT. www.ageconcerniom.com Ends