Woman who lost siblings to cancer training for charity cycle ride across India
A WOMAN who lost her brother and sister to cancer is training for a cycle ride across India to help others battling with the disease.
Debra Robertson, 50, was devastated when her brother, Norman Eastburn, died in July 2010 from a brain tumour, aged 52. Less than 18 months later, her sister, Jenny Eastburn, was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed away in May, aged 53.
Debra had planned to cycle 350km in India with Jenny for Women V Cancer, which raises money for Breast Cancer Care, Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust and Ovarian Cancer Action.
Now, she will complete the distance on her own in memory of her siblings next month.
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Debra, of Hessle, said: "It has been a horrendous year. It feels like a horror story and so rotten. But doing this means more than ever now. I'm looking forward to the challenge. I know they will be with me."
Debra's mother Winnifred Eastburn, 78, has recently been diagnosed with bowel cancer and other family members have also been affected by the disease.
Debra will fly to Delhi on Friday, October 19, for the five-day cycling challenge.
Her husband Paul, 51, plans to be there to see her cross the finish line.
Debra said the terrain will be varied during her bike ride and temperatures will be about 30 degrees Celsius.
She and the other cyclists in the group will sleep in tents overnight and she said washing will be done using buckets of water.
Debra said Jenny would have loved the challenge.
"She would have thought it was amazing and she would have wanted me to do it," she said.
"When she was ill, the one thing that inspired her was I used to cycle to the hospital on my bike.
"She used to tell all the doctors and be really pleased I'd got another training session in.
"I will probably put my head down at night and have a laugh thinking of her.
"Sometimes in life, you don't spend much time together.
"But I was really close to her and we were really looking forward to the bike ride."
Debra said she knows her brother and sister will never be far from her thoughts during the challenge.
"Knowing I'm doing it for them is what's keeping me going," she said.
Debra has so far raised £3,456 for the charity.
Her sister Angela Gurnell, 47, of east Hull, said she is proud of Debra.
"What she is doing is marvellous," said Angela. "Jenny would have been over the moon.
"We are all right behind Debra and doing our bit to raise as much as we can.
"I'm so proud of her because it's a really big thing."
Visit www.justgiving.com/debra-robertson to sponsor Debra.
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