Strathpuffer 24-hour mountain bike challenge sent to honour ‘one of the best’ after cancer battle
THE memory of a wonderful woman much-loved in mountain biking circles will be poignantly honoured at a gruelling Ross-shire challenge this weekend.
The Strathpuffer has become a world-renowned endurance challenge involving 12.5km laps of a route in the depths of a Highland winter over the course of 24 hours.
Event organisers announced that this year the female solos winner will be handed the Gillian Stewart Memorial Award.
Gillian sadly died at the age of 41 last August after a battle with cancer.
At her funeral in Kirkcaldy, friends were invited to wear a touch of red in her memory and that bright legacy is set to continue this weekend.
Organisers posted: “We’re so immensely honoured to be able to bring you the Gillian Stewart Memorial Award to the Strathpuffer.
“Gillian Stewart (nee Pratt) was taken from us this summer by cancer when approaching her 42nd birthday. She was seen by all who met her as very vibrant, positive and always happy person.
“Nothing got her down. If Gillian could help you, she did. She was for many years a very keen cyclist, rode for Leslie Bike Shop/Bikers Boutique and loved mountain biking. She won the solo female Puffer in 2014. Gillian was determined and tough in all things that she undertook.
“She raced the hard races; 10 under the Ben, Relentless and won the Solo Female World 24 Hours Mountain Bike Championships in 2017. She won the British MTB championships, SXC Championships and many other races. Following her being diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2020 she began to raise money for cancer charities and raised more than £15,000 with her efforts.
“Gillian is sorely missed by family and the many, many friends that she made in and out of the cycling community. She WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. This trophy is intended as a very small part of her legacy. Her family, team mates and friends hope that the trophy presentation each year will serve to remind others of Gillian’s attributes of friendship and positivity and of course the passion for all things BIKE!”
The post prompted lots of personal tributes to Gillian, one simply saying: “She was the best” and another observing: “What an inspiration, makes me feel less nervous and more determined about my first Strathpuffer and solo this year, having such a wonderful person to look up to x.”
Keep an eye on our website over the weekend for coverage of the event.
