A grandmother-of-eight is preparing to cycle around the UK coast with her golden retriever to raise £25,000 for two charities.

Maggie Scorer, 65, is embarking on a 5,000-mile Dog On Tour challenge.

Maggie Scorer, 65, is embarking on a 5,000-mile Dog On Tour challenge.

Maggie Scorer will embark on her 5,000-mile Dog On Tour challenge on March 14, setting off from Aldeburgh in Suffolk with seven-year-old Oscar in tow in a purpose-built trailer.

The 65-year-old, who has previously sailed halfway around the world with Oscar, will circumnavigate the coasts of England, Scotland and Wales over the next six months and has chosen to support stillbirth and neonatal death charity Sands and Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research.

She gave birth to a stillborn baby in 1977 and five years ago her son-in-law Dan Turnball, who has been paraplegic since he was two years old, was diagnosed with the blood disorder myelofibrosis.

Maggie has already cycled the Great Wall of China but expects this two-wheeled challenge to be her toughest to date.

She said: “This will really push me to the limit. I’m going to take my time and take in the scenery but I’d like to finish by September.

“Having friends and family, including Dan, join me for stretches of the ride will really motivate me and provide great company for Oscar as well as myself.”

Seven-year-old Oscar is to accompany Maggie Scorer as she cycles around the UK.

Seven-year-old Oscar is to accompany Maggie Scorer as she cycles around the UK.

Carolyn Bray, fundraising manager at Sands, said: “Our dedicated supporters at Sands never fail to amaze us with their creative and challenging fundraising ideas.

“Maggie is certainly no different; to cycle the whole way around the British coast is fantastic and to do it with her dog Oscar is even better.

“It is people like Maggie that allow Sands to continue to support anyone affected by the death of a baby, work with health professionals to improve bereavement care and promote research to reduce the loss of babies’ lives”.

Caitlin O’Neill, Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research’s fundraising manager for London and the South East, said: “What Maggie has set out to achieve is remarkable. We are grateful she has chosen to support Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research. Every penny she raises will help us in our mission to beat blood cancer – stopping people from dying and making patients’ lives better. We wish her all the best with her challenge.”

To support Maggie, visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MaggieScorer, and to follow her journey, go to www.dogontour.co.uk.

(Press Association)