FOR many the New Year is chance for a fresh start, and often sparks a short-held resolution to exercise more, dust off those old running shoes and join the latest dieting fad.

However one Bury woman needs no such transient inspiration.

Frances Branton, aged 55, from Tottington cycled 350km in just seven days as part of the Women V Cancer cycle in Brazil challenge 2017, last September.

Ms Branton took part in the challenge with 69 other women, raising a total of £503,004, of which she raised over £3,900, for Breast Cancer Care, Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust and Ovarian Cancer Action.

She said: "I was inspired to undertake the challenge as I wanted to raise funds for breast, ovarian and cervical cancer.

"I also wanted to explore Brazil, a country I have never visited before. A fabulous experience, I would recommend a visit, but not as a 'lone traveller'.

"The trip was fantastic, I made lots of new friends."

Organised by Dream Challenge the cycle Brazil challenge was the first time that the event had gone to South America.

Ms Branton and the other participants flew to the city of Salvador, a UNESCO World Heritage in the north-eastern state of Bahia, and then cycled the mammoth distance from Bom Despacho to Ilhéus.

Ahead of the cycle Ms Branton, who works for the NHS, undertook nine months of tough training.

She said: "My training commenced in January 2017. I followed a training schedule and purchased a treadmill as part of my regime.

"I cycled into work for 8 weeks from July to September, as my work diary allowed, with quite a few kilometres clocked up, including cycling into work on National Cycle to Work Day on September 13.

"All progressed well bar one accident that affected my right arm.

"I thoroughly enjoyed the training, and was successful in finding a cycling partner.

"Sadly, I had my road bike stolen from St Ann Street Manchester, in July, whilst enjoying a slice and cake and a cup of Earl Grey tea in Patisserie Valerie. A sad occurrence but I guess a reality of life in 2017.

"I am now in the process of ordering a new road bike via the Cycle to Work Scheme, an NHS employment benefit."

Ms Branton has since signed up for two more cycling challenges, between Windsor and London in May and between London and Paris in September.

Since its foundation in 2011 Women V Cancer cycle challenges have raised £7million in the UK and overseas for Breast Cancer Care, Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust and Ovarian Cancer Action.