Tour De 4 from Liz at Sir Chris Hoy bike ride

Liz McElroy (65) took part in the event to raise money for the Lang Toun’s Maggie’s Centre, which she describes as “an ocean of calm” as she received chemotherapy for her Stage 3 lymphoma which was diagnosed in March of this year.

She said: “When they told me I had lymphoma, I was sort of relieved to be honest, because I'd got it into my head that it could be pancreatic cancer.

“I could feel I was not very well, so it was just a relief when my chemo started, which I know sounds a bit daft.

“The NHS staff - the GPs, the consultant, and the nurses - were absolutely fabulous. They really took their time each time I saw them and were really positive.

“Maggie's is a fabulous charity. I've loved going there. It's a very calm, peaceful, non-medical place. They run loads of support groups and give you lots of accurate information.

“Macmillan have been brilliant as well. They put me on to the Circle of Comfort, which is a brilliant Fife charity which offers you four sessions of therapy and they found a gym session for people who have been diagnosed with cancer at the Michael Woods Sports Centre, so I've been going there on a Thursday evening to do some light gym work which feels nice.

“The chemo regime is quite strong so I was very lucky because I do a lot of cycling so I was quite fit for my age so my body could tolerate the treatment.

“And I also think the mental strategies that I use when doing a big ride also helped. I think of it in small stages and that's what I've tried to do with the chemo. Not look too far ahead and just cope with what I have to cope with that day.”

Liz finished her chemo cycle at the beginning of the month and felt fit enough to take part in the Tour De 4, which was launched by Olympic legend Sir Chris Hoy following his own Stage 4 cancer diagnosis.

“It was a fabulous day, absolutely brilliant,” Liz says.

“I've done a lot of cycling. I cycled Land's End to John O'Groats for my 60th birthday and I usually do 7-8000 miles a year, so before I was ill I thought I would do the Tour De 4. I had registered before I got my diagnosis.

“So I thought, I'm not going to put pressure on myself. If I wasn't well enough I wouldn't do it.

“About a week after my chemo was finished and I was over the worst of the side effects, I started doing some cycling again and it felt so brilliant to be back on my bike.

“At the Tour De 4 there was such a lovely atmosphere. There were crowds of people cheering us on, bagpipe players, people dressed up - it was brilliant.

“But, of course, everyone who was cycling had some link to cancer. I met up with a friend who has stage four cancer. He seemed really healthy and he cycled the blue route as well.

“It was a fabulous day. Before I had cancer I had read Chris Hoy's book and thought that was the way to deal with any big event in your life, not to sweat the big things, enjoy the little things and appreciate the people around you.

“I've carried on doing that.”

You can donate to Liz’s Go Fund Me page here.