Deb and I are both 43. We took A Levels together and as I remember, Deb did much better than me!

 Deb was a great source of inspiration then and was clearly focussed on becoming a teacher - an ambition she not only realised but achieved the lofty heights of Assistant Headteacher at Shirebrook Comprehensive School in Sheffield. A career change took her into the prison service to work with Young Offenders.

I'm sure you'll understand and agree with me that she has made an enormous difference to so many young lives.

Four years ago Deb was diagnosed with breast cancer, a cruel diagnosis that she has countered head on with dignity and steadfast stubborn courage. Deb remains as inspiring today as she was all those years ago when our lives were only just beginning.

When we visited Deb in the summer, I wanted to do something to support Deb, her husband Jonathan and her twin sister Louise. I wanted to make some sort of difference to their lives - but wasn't sure how or what. My little daughter Isabel also wanted to show them that she cared too. So we set about thinking about what we could do.....

Pre mummyhood I took part in a fund raising expedition to Mt Everest but right now I'd need my own team of Sherpas just to coax me across those rope bridges......swimming the channel and running a marathon were also no go! The answer came a couple of weeks ago when I received a schedule for the forthcoming horse show TopFest. TopFest is a two day fundraising event and the chosen charity for 2010 is Ride for Life - Cancer Research UK. As we're both horse mad and have had enormous fun and a little success with our delightful pony, Mrs Tiggy Winkle, I knew this would be the perfect opportunity.

On closer scrutiny I found a class that we could take part in to honour Deb - something that we could dress up beautifully for, do glamtastic and razzle dazzle 'em  - the Concours d'Elegance. In this competition, horse & rider combinations are judged on an overall impression of elegance and many riders favour period costume. Of course we didn't need to think twice about this as I have a bit of a passion for vintage couture, Isabel adores pretty dresses and Mrs Tiggy Winkle loves dressing up!

 Inspired by the exquisitely tailored riding habits worn in Downton Abbey, I set about tracking down matching outfits for us to wear. Quite miraculously I found them in our respective sizes on ebay, albeit located at opposite ends of the country. I snapped them up and called Louise to unveil our plan. To our delight Lou admitted that Deb adores Downton Abbey and we were thrilled when Lou told Deb exactly what we were up to.

On Sunday 21 November, 1700hrs at Topthorn Equestrian Centre, Suffolk, Team Tiggy Winkle will Ride for Life in honour of Deborah Slater.

 We hope that you will be able to support us in raising funds for Cancer Research UK and to honour a very special lady.

For Deb.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it's the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity. So please dig deep and donate now.