After nearly 2 years without my beautiful mummy, it still doesn’t feel real. There’s a part of me that still HOPES that she’ll walk through the door and take all our pain away. This disease which mum inspirationally fought for 11 years has brought our family immense grief - there’s a whole inside my heart that will never be filled, a cloud over my head that will never go away and 3 children who never get to see their mummy again. Without the help of charities such as grief encounter our family would not have been able to come out of this trauma closer and stronger as a team.

1 year into mums journey with cancer, she took part in the cancer research race for life with her best friends. Now, 11 years later, and to mark 2 years since mum’s passing: me and my best friends will attempt (and conquer) The National Three Peaks challenge, commemorating the life of my special mum. The challenge consists of climbing 23 miles, ascending a total of 10,502m and overall summiting the biggest peaks in England (Scaffell pike), Scotland (Ben Nevis) and Wales (Snowden) all in under 24 hours. We will be hiking for around 14 hours, through the night, whatever the weather. 

A daunting task for 4 very inexperienced trekkers however, it is nothing compared to the 11 years that my mum fought inspirationally against a disease which just wouldn’t let our family be. She showed vast mental and physical strength when battling against the side effects of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy on top of various surgeries and transplants – always with a smile on her face and HOPE in her heart. It is exactly this that is our inspiration to train and complete this challenge, and furthermore my inspiration to get through the challenges that I face in life, one being my grief. Despite all the pain mum was in, she always managed to light up a room with her smile, strength and energy – showing everyone that despite all the darkness in this world there is light. It is this message that we want to spread to all those struggling, whether that be with grief or with their own mental battle, keep HOPE within your heart as there is so much light in this world no matter how dark it gets. 

It would mean so much to me if you would support us in spreading this message of positivity and giving back to a charity who have helped my family in ways words can’t describe. The Grief Encounter Crystal house, named after my beautiful mummy Michelle Bellman, helps thousands of bereaved families each year, just like mine. This is the first London Therapy Centre which provides an invaluable space for children dealing with grief, I know how honoured my mum was to be part of this project; I even remember her smile as she told me this house would be named after her. Even the smallest of donations will go along way, to get families the help they need to process and find HOPE again after losing a loved one.