‘That was beautiful. I cried’: Rebs cycles length of Ireland for two best friends who faced lymphoma

Local woman Rebecca ‘Rebs’ Lightbody Lucy led the length of Ireland to raise money for Leukaemia & Lymphoma NI

Co Antrim woman Rebecca ‘Rebs’ Lightbody had barely ridden a road bike when she decided to cycle more than 570 kilometres across Ireland alone.

She wasn’t chasing a personal record or trying to prove she could do it.

She was doing it for two of her best friends.

Both women, friends since school, had been diagnosed with lymphoma within the space of just three years — one with Hodgkin lymphoma and the other with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

After watching them endure cancer treatment while still young, Rebecca wanted to turn the helplessness of seeing people she loved go through something so frightening into something positive.

And after hundreds of kilometres from County Cork to the north coast, carrying everything she needed on her bike and battling exhaustion and illness along the way, those same two friends were waiting for her at the finish line in Castlerock.

“That was definitely the best part for me — being at the finish line and seeing my two best friends waiting for me,” Rebecca told Love Ballymena.

“That was beautiful. I cried.”

Two diagnoses that changed everything

Rebs (centre) was inspired to do the fundraising challenge after seeing her two friends Becky Marcus and Hope McCartney who have both battled lymphoma.

Rebecca set herself an original fundraising target of £5,000 for Leukaemia & Lymphoma NI and the Laurel House Chemotherapy Unit at Antrim Area Hospital.

She has now raised more than £7,000.

“The reason I have done the cycle is because two of my best friends from school, in the past three years, have been diagnosed with lymphoma — one with Hodgkin and one with non-Hodgkin lymphoma,” Rebecca explained.

“Thankfully, one of my friends is in remission and we’re just waiting for that same news for my other friend.”

Both friends received chemotherapy at Laurel House in Antrim, and their experiences there were another important part of Rebecca’s decision to take on the challenge.

“I wanted to use my social media platform for a little bit of good and try to raise some funds for Leukaemia & Lymphoma NI, and then a small pot for the staff at Laurel House where they both had their chemo.”

Her friends have spoken highly of the doctors, nurses and wider team who cared for them, and Rebecca wanted some of the money raised to be a tangible thank-you to the people who supported them through some of their most difficult days.

The other beneficiary, Leukaemia & Lymphoma NI, is Northern Ireland’s only charity dedicated to funding blood cancer research locally, supporting laboratory research, clinical support and education.

There was just one problem — Rebs wasn’t really a cyclist

Taking on a journey of more than 570km would be daunting for an experienced cyclist.

Rebecca was anything but.

Running was not a realistic option because of an old knee injury, so when she began thinking about a fundraising challenge, cycling seemed like the more sensible alternative.

“I’m not much of a runner — I have no ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in one of my knees,” she said.

“So instead of doing a marathon, which I think most people would do to try and raise money, I thought, ‘Oh, let’s cycle — it’s a bit more low impact.’”

There was, however, quite a leap between deciding to cycle and riding the length of Ireland.

Rebecca picked up her bike on 1 May.

She went out on the roads for the first time on 5 May.

Over the following eight weeks, she managed just 11 training rides before heading south to begin the real thing.

“I set off for Kinsale in Cork, started from the very bottom of Ireland and just cycled north,” she said.

“I did the whole trip solo, carried all my luggage, and I think because I was so new to cycling I didn’t quite appreciate that what I was doing was so far!

“I did over 570 kilometres.”

Then came Cork

Any lingering illusion that this might be straightforward disappeared almost immediately.

“Day one was tough. Cork is the hilliest place ever,” Rebecca laughed.

Her planned lunch stop was no longer serving food, forcing her into a lengthy detour on what was already a gruelling opening day.

“I think my day one was about 95 kilometres and a kilometre of elevation.

“I didn’t get into my bed until about 10.30pm and I was a bit scared then for the rest of the journey — but I made it, and it was a lot of fun.”

There was another problem Rebecca had not planned for.

She was ill.

“The lows were mainly just being tired,” she said.

“I was unfortunately sick the whole time as well. I had a bit of a chest infection, which didn’t help matters. I got quite tired by day four.”

And then, somewhere in the middle of nowhere, disaster struck in a form understood by anyone who has spent several consecutive days on a bicycle.

“I lost my anti-chafe cream,” Rebecca said.

“That was, quite literally, a bit of a bummer!”

570km of cows — and kindness

Encounters: Rebs with Lisa Williamson from The Valley Hotel in Fivemiletown, County Fermanagh.

Despite the physical toll, Rebecca’s memories of the journey are filled as much with people as they are with roads.

Cycling alone meant conversations with strangers became part of each day.

“I got chatting to lots of random people along the way and telling my story, and the kindness of strangers never ceases to amaze me,” she said.

One encounter in Portumna particularly stayed with her.

Rebecca had been relying on online opening times to plan where she could stop for food. When she reached the town, the café she expected to use was closed.

A complete stranger came to her rescue.

“A very kind gentleman gave me a lift up the road to a golf club and sat and chatted with me,” Rebecca recalled.

“We shared stories about what we were doing and how we got to where we are.

“He was a cyclist as well, so I think he kind of knew the pain that I was in.”

For someone travelling hundreds of kilometres alone, moments like that took on a particular significance.

“The kindness of strangers is really something that I think a lot of people don’t necessarily see all the time, but it’s really nice to look out for.”

“I saw many, many, many, many cows…”

Rebs, with (another) donkey

There was also plenty of time in the saddle to become intimately acquainted with the Irish countryside.

“I’ll be honest — a lot of Ireland looks the same,” Rebecca joked.

“I saw many, many, many, many cows, and sheep, and donkeys, and horses — and thankfully the weather wasn’t too bad.”

‘Nothing compared to what blood cancer patients face’

The humour helped carry Rebecca through the journey, but the reason for doing it was never far from her thoughts.

Before setting off, she spoke candidly about what it had been like to see two people so close to her diagnosed with cancer at such a young age.

“At 27 years old, I never imagined that two of my closest friends would be diagnosed with lymphoma within the space of just three years,” she said.

“Watching people you love face a cancer diagnosis is heartbreaking, frightening, and has often felt completely incomprehensible.

“Seeing the physical and emotional challenges they have endured has inspired me to do something meaningful in support of others facing the same battle.”

She added:

“This challenge will test me physically and mentally, but it is nothing compared to what blood cancer patients face every day.”

Rebs wants people to know the symptoms

Raising money was only part of Rebecca’s purpose.

She also wants her journey to help more people recognise the possible symptoms of lymphoma — a type of blood cancer whose symptoms can sometimes resemble those of less serious illnesses.

Possible signs can include swollen lymph nodes, particularly in the neck, armpit or groin, as well as persistent fatigue, unexplained weight loss, night sweats, ongoing itching and recurrent fevers or infections.

Rebecca said:

“These symptoms can often be mistaken for less serious conditions, which is why lymphoma can sometimes go undiagnosed for longer than it should.

“If you or someone you know is experiencing persistent symptoms, please seek medical advice and be persistent if you are concerned.”

For Rebecca, awareness matters because behind statistics and medical terminology are people like the two friends who were waiting for her in Castlerock.

More than £7,000 — and she isn’t finished

Four friends at the finish line… Rebs with friends Becky Marcus, Hope McCartney, and Nicole Reid

Welcome hugs at the finish line… Rebs with partner Jack.

What began with a woman who wasn’t much of a cyclist picking up a bike on 1 May has become more than 570 kilometres travelled and over £7,000 raised.

But Rebecca says reaching the finish line does not mean her fundraising is finished.

“I don’t think it’s going to be the end of my fundraising efforts,” she told Love Ballymena.

“There’s no point having a social media platform if you can’t use it for some good, so I hope to continue that in the future.”

For all the kilometres, hills, illness, closed cafés and aching legs, however, Rebecca’s favourite moment required no explanation.

Two best friends were standing at the finish line.

One is already in remission.

Now Rebecca, and everyone around them, is hoping for the same news for the other.

Support Rebecca’s fundraiser

Rebecca’s fundraising page remains open, with money being raised for Leukaemia & Lymphoma NIand the Laurel House Chemotherapy Unit at Antrim Area Hospital.

Donations can be made at:

Donate here!