Yeovil's cycling midwives (From This is The West Country)

Yeovil's cycling midwives

8:19am Sunday 24th December 2006

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YEOVIL midwives Louise Newall and Vyvyenne Smyth (pictured) are in training for a tough, women-only cycling challenge in India to raise vital funds to improve the health of women and babies worldwide.

The pair have responded to an appeal by leading infertility expert Professor Robert Winston to join 'Women Cycle India' and they will cycle 390 kilometres through Rajestan next year.

They each have to raise £2,800, which will be used to fund groundbreaking medical research at a major new centre in London, and they are asking local people, clubs and businesses to help them 'deliver' their target.

Vyvyenne, who has been delivering babies at Yeovil District Hospital for 23 years, was inspired to enter after seeing celebrity Fern Britten taking part in last year's event.

Vyvyenne said: "This is a fantastic cause which supports women scientists and clinicians to specialise in research affecting women and their babies, improving prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a range of devastating conditions which cause miscarriage, genetic diseases, infertility and cancer.

"With nearly 200 babies dying every day in the UK from complications during pregnancy, this work has never been more important for women and babies nationwide."

Louise, who has worked as a midwife for 10 years, including the last six at Yeovil District Hospital, has already invested in a special training bike for a gruelling schedule which builds to seven hours of continuous cycling for five days.

She said: "This is a huge commitment which will take over most of our spare time in the coming months, not only in tough physical training but also fundraising.

"We have had lots of support from our friends, families and colleagues and we plan to build on this with various events leading up to Cycle India next October.

"We feel fortunate to be taking part and we want to make sure that everyone locally knows what we are doing and why."

Cycle India is the seventh Women For Women cycling challenge, with women around the country having raised more than £1 million from previous rides in Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Cuba and Turkey.

Women For Women is administered by the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Trust, both of which are chaired by Professor Winston.

Next year's event starts near Agra and finishes in Jaipur, in a region often called the Land of Kings. The group will cycle through rural India, staying in campsites linked to an Indian Palace.

Vyvyenne said: "This could be the toughest challenge of my life, cycling 60 miles a day in soaring temperatures.

"Louise and I are absolutely determined to make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help create safer lives for women and babies."

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