Alyson Stewart - Women for Women Cycle Cuba 2008

My name is Alyson Stewart and I work as a paramedic in Fort William. Last year I weighed 20st 10lbs and was totally fed up with myself. I had just completed a degree in medicine and professional practice and was at a loose end. I have two beautiful grandchildren and decided I was very lucky so I would look for something to do for charity. I researched many events but Professor Winston’s Women for Women for me encompassed many conditions that I felt very strongly about so I decided to join Cycle Cuba and started to cycle.

I had not been on a bike for over 25 years and could hardly pedal past the gate before puffing and panting. I got off on any hills or even very small inclines and couldn’t go further than 2 or 3 miles. But I slowly built up my cycling and I’m now almost attached to my bike at the hip. I have lost 3st 7lbs and I am slowly losing more. I am now cycling long 20 – 30-mile rides. I am sleeping better. I am going to the gym. I am happier than I have been in 30 years and wish to tell everyone out there who was, like me, very overweight and unfit that there is hope and anyone can do it if they just motivate themselves.

I go to spinning classes and when I feel unable to turn the wheels any more I visualise a wee premature baby in an incubator and me turning the wheels provides the life-saving oxygen they need. This keeps me cycling till the end.

Nina Hubbard - Cycle India 2007

In 1987 something happened in my life; I was 14, I didn't know how it felt to be a mother, and I didn't realise how important this event would be and how much upset it really caused. My mother knew the pain of losing a child when she haemorrhaged and Lee Anthony Hubbard, my beautiful brother who we would never get to know, never see smile or hear laugh or tell us he loved us, had died a few minutes after he was born. In December 2001 I had a miscarriage with twins. I was devastated and believe that maybe this loss helped me feel some of what had happened to my own mother. In October 2002 I gave birth to my first beautiful daughter Mckenzie Hargreaves.

Every piece of her was perfect and I loved her. It made me realise how lucky I was to have had the gift of being able to carry her inside me, a gift that some women never get or one that is cut short. On Christmas Eve 2003 I was 39 weeks pregnant with my second daughter. It was the day I knew the pain and hurt my mother had felt. Sydney-Leigh Hargreaves was born sleeping on the 26th December 2003 (stillborn is a word that I hate to use).It was in memory of my daughter and my brother that I cycled India with Women for Women it also gave a meaning to what had happened to me. India is the best thing that I have ever done in my life other than giving birth to all of my wonderful babies.

I told my daughter and son (who was born a year after Sydney's death)that their sister never left us; she is a star in the sky. I told them that I had gone on my bike ride to stop there being any more stars - there are too many stars in the sky already.India changed my life in many ways. I had never left my children alone from the day Sydney died for fear something would happen to them.I had to cycle India to prove to myself that my kids were safe and, of course, when I got back they were fine and I now have no problem leaving them. Doing India gave me so much more confidence in myself and it has given me some life-long friends too.

Andy Lee - Regain China Bike Ride 2006

Before his accident 14 years ago Andy Lee was an experienced and enthusiastic cyclist regularly taking part in organised bike rides. His life changed completely the day he was flipped over the handlebars and despite wearing a helmet, broke his neck. Doctors said he was lucky to be alive. Over the years the charity REGAIN has helped Andy with his rehabilitation and provided him with his powered wheelchair and in 2006 Andy completed the REGAIN China Bike Ride, raising vital funds for the charity. He cycled 400km through China alongside more than 50 other riders - able-bodied and disabled. Describing the gruelling 8-day trip as some of the most physically challenging days of his life.

Andy said: "I never thought I would be able to take part in something as big as this. I was a keen cyclist, and being among all those other cyclists again brought back some strong memories. I used to do London to Brighton bike rides but they don't even come close. This was seriously exhausting, it was like doing London to Brighton 5 days on the spin. I was used to the races being physical on my legs, but this was extreme on my arms.But after a while the physical demands were forgotten as the camaraderie of the trip took over. There was a real team spirit between everyone, and everybody involved was extremely supportive.

Ann and Calum from Action for Charity helped me on both a physical and emotional level. Their support and encouragement kept me going. Over the years Action for Charity has organised many bike rides for REGAIN making it possible for disabled people to take up a challenge as an equal. My confidence has grown and I met some wonderful people. I just wish my late partner Sally was around to be part of it all. I did this for her and I know she would have been very proud of me. I am sure she was with me every inch of the way.' Andy raised £7,500 for Regain.