Breast cancer survivor Pat Adams decided during her illness that, if she couldn’t beat her motorcycling husband and son, she might as well join them.

She bought a Harley Davidson motorbike, even though she hadn’t passed her test.

Now five years on, Mrs Adams, 55, of Froxfield, is clear of cancer – and planning a 1,000 mile, week-long ride along the USA Highway 1 coast road from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

She will join 28 other women survivors on the ride, which starts on September 30 and is designed to raise money for breast cancer research.

Harley Davidson is lending new bikes to the women for the ride, which is organised by Amazon Heart, a charity which organises adventures for breast cancer survivors.

Mrs Adams’ husband Barry rides a Harley Davidson V Rod and Wayne, one of their two sons, has recently bought a Ducati.

Mrs Adams said her illness focussed her mind on what she really wanted to do: to get better, pass her test and ride her own bike.

She signed up as a member of the Thames Valley Harley Davidson Chapter and last year took part in a four-day ride around the Cotswolds for Amazon Heart.

At the end of the ride, her husband will meet her in San Francisco and they plan to hire two motorbikes – Harley Davidsons of course – to ride around Yosemite National Park.

An exhibition of photographs by Lorraine Saville, who lives in Froxfield, opens tomorrow at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall in support of Mrs Adam’s ride.