THREE cyclists are jumping on their bikes to take on a challenge to help a mum-of-three who has been blinded after suffering with cancer.

Karen Ainscough, from Atherton,was diagnosed with bowel cancer two years ago and has had to give up her job as a nurse at Seven Brooks Medical Centre in Church Street to have extensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment.

The 41-year-old’s cancer spread to her head before she lost sight in her left eye in October and her right eye in April.

Due to Karen being a single parent and unable to work, she is trying to raise funds to safeguard the futures of her children Bethan, three, Morgan, 16, and Lauryn, 19.

Her friends Keri McPike, 43, Michelle McPike, 37, and Susan Philbin, 50, are riding 63 miles from Manchester to Blackpool on Sunday, July 8.

Mum-of-one Keri said: “There used to be a group of us that went out in Atherton around 20 years ago and Karen was one of them.

“She has always been lovely and would do anything for anyone.

“All of us that are doing the event have never completed a ride like this before so it is going to be challenging.

“We are determined to complete it for Karen and we have been joking that we will crawl over the line if we have to.”

Keri, who owns the Hindley Green Fresh and Clean Laundry Service in John Street, has also praised the community for their donations to a crowdfunding page that has been set up in aid of the cycle challenge.

To donate to Keri’s crowdfunding page visit bit.ly/2I4uorV.