Three school friends from Perth have plans to conquer Britain’s three highest peaks in memory of a much-loved Perth restaurateur.
Last summer Roxanne De Sousa Tabourel rode a bike from Land’s End to John O’ Groats with her dad and boyfriend in memory of her mother Paula.
The epic journey by the enthusiastic but amateur cyclists - Pedal4Paula - saw £11,500 raised for British Red Cross.
The three - Roxanne, Hervé and Ross - did it as a way to mark the first anniversary of being without Roxanne’s mum, popular Paula De Sousa Tabourel who died suddenly in November 2021 aged 53.
The Perth family continued Paula’s French-themed restaurant Cardo in South Street and, on her birthday last May, set off with their bikes to start the long road home from the tip of Cornwall.
Roxanne, Hervé and Ross made it to John O’ Groats through twelve 80-mile riding days of sweat and tears. Roxanne jokingly vowed she would never do a bike challenge again.
But over Christmas she got itchy feet again and decided she wanted to go away with her dad and boyfriend and do another mad challenge this year.
So the three members of Team Tab who tackled Pedal4Paula have agreed to work together again.
This year on May 12, on what would have been Paula’s 55th birthday, they will be joined in a climbing adventure by two of Roxanne’s pals who are willing to tackle the three famous mountain summits.
Roxanne (28) went to St John’s RC Academy in Perth and stayed in touch with school friends Hannah Kerrigan and Mhairi O’Donnell.
Hannah is restaurant manager at Cardo and Mhairi is a newly qualified paramedic. The three girls all enjoy walking Perthshire Munros.
Peaks4Paula will involve the team of five attempting to climb the highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales in 24 hours, including the driving in between.
First peaking Snowdon in Wales, before making their way up Scafell Pike in England and, finally, finishing up Ben Nevis.
Mhairi’s dad Vincent has agreed to be the driver.
“He’s a firefighter in Perth and as he retires from work this summer, with much experience from many years driving fire crew about with precision, we feel sure he’ll be the one to get us between peaks,” said Roxanne.
Once again Team Tab will be raising funds for the British Red Cross.
“We hope to raise as much money as possible for the incredible British Red Cross who are part of a global voluntary network, responding to conflicts, natural disasters and individual emergencies,” Team Tab posted on their support page.
“We have chosen the date to be during what would have been Paula’s 55th birthday. What a way to wish her a happy heavenly birthday. Paula was a dedicated mother, wife and business woman. She was taken from us on November 20, 2021 and since, our lives haven’t been the same. This is just a small tribute to honour her name and legacy all for a wonderful charity.”
Roxanne added: “Mum would be so proud the money we raise will help the work of the British Red Cross - especially given the demand on the organisation with the recent earthquakes in Syria and Turkey.”
Sponsorship donations can be made to Peaks4Paula at https://www.gofundme.com/f/peak-for-paula
