We are taking part in the Tough Mudder https://toughmudder.co.uk/ at Belvoir Castle on 21st May 2016 to raise money for Breast Cancer Now for our friend Kate, who unfotunately lost her battle against Cancer in October 2015.  The Tough Mudder is a gruelling event which involves a 10-12 mile obstacle course, including running through 10,000 volts of electricity!

Catrin shared these words at Kate's Memorial Service on behalf of us all, please read as they sum up our memories and thoughts of Kate...

I met Kate 18 years ago at University in Nottingham when I also met the group of girls sat down there. These are their memories as well as mine.  My first impression was that she was sweet and shy. 

By the end of the first term, I knew differently.  She was actually quietly confident and wise.  I want to concentrate on those two characteristics this morning.  Kate did not drink very much at University so she would be the one who was sensible enough to ensure no one misbehaved too much and always filled in those sections of the night before, which for the rest of us remained a blur.

Kate studied Urban Planning and sailed through her degree.  I cannot remember a single occasion of Kate moaning or getting stressed about work…….Probably because the rest of us made up for her with our moaning.

Kate is the only student I know who regularly cleaned her room and not only washed her bed sheets weekly but also ironed them as well.  Even to this day, when I iron our bedsheets I always think of Kate, which always puts a smile on my face before starting a thankless task.

Some of her wiseness came from the hours that she spent in front of the television and the knowledge she gained from this.  She would share these hours at University with her best friend Helen and Emma. They watched anything and everything with the favourite programme being Bang Bang It’s Reeves and Mortimer.  They were also glued to the music channel – The Box. The only time that they would return to their studies was if R Kelly -Turn Back the Hands of Time or Westlife - Flying without Wings came on.

Kate’s brain must have been like a sponge as she had great knowledge.  If we ever wanted to know the name of a famous person, obtain information in relation to a country or explanation in relation to political issues, then we all knew to ask Kate and she would know the answer.  She was a font of all knowledge.  She certainly would have been my number one phone a friend.  We had a ball at University and shared so many fun times with Kate who would always be keen to make the most of those carefree days.

When we look back at the photographs, and we have done a lot of that over the last few weeks, the one thing that hits me, aside from the fact that I was about 5 stone heavier then, is Kate’s beautiful smile.  We will see lots of photos later.  Have a look at them, as Kate is so happy in all of them.

I mentioned earlier that Kate was independent and quietly confident and this is reflected in the fact that she pursued a career in something completely different to what she read at University. A far cry from Urban Planning, Kate pursued her passion of fashion and moved to London in 2001.

Kate would always know the latest fashion and have the most diverse range of earrings and jewellery.  She would put the likes of me to shame and looking like I was from a different generation.

She lived with Clare when she first arrived in London and then with Hannah and Helen in 2002 but could not get rid of the rest of us either and we have all as a group of friends remained extremely close despite some of us living in New Zealand, Beirut and Jersey over the years. (I was going to add Wales to that list, but unfortunately it isn’t as impressive!).

We travelled far and wide all over the UK for weekends away.  We have had holidays in Scotland, France, Spain, Portugal, Ibiza and Austria to name a few.

Kate would be integral to the arranging and researching of the trips and she would know exactly what should be seen and done, and what to eat and drink.  It was like having our own travel guide with Kate on board.  She hardly ever missed a trip, especially if it was a trip to the seaside which was a big favourite for her. Sue and Graham, whilst our trips will not be as well organised going forward and Kate will be missed on our trips, we can assure you that she most certainly will not be forgotten.

Over the last few years, I have seen a slightly different Kate to the one that I properly got to know during our first term at University.  The trait of being quietly confident has shown itself in a different guise by way of sheer determination and steeliness.  She once told me that she was not scared of dying but she really wanted to live.  And live she did over the twoyears since diagnosis, despite her treatment and generally feeling unwell.

Even this year, we have had many weekends which are now so precious in Paris, Derby and Latitude Festival, whichI certainly would not have been at, if Kate had not said that she was going, as camping is certainly not my forte.  She ate, danced, listened to poetry and comedians with the best of us at Latitude and was a trooper to the end. 

Cancer brought out a talent in Kate. In fact, this was a talent which I did not know she had.  It was a talent for writing. Explaining difficult situations and feelings in a succinct and honestway is a gift.  I certainly could havedone with her help in preparing for this today.

Not one to dwell on her situation Kate wanted to help others in the same situation, and I have no doubt that her blog has been such assistance to manyother cancer patients.

Whilst we will never hear her laugh again, never receive one of her fabulous hugs, never see her dance moves or hear her wise words of advice, we have our memories, the photographs, and her blog to help us remember her for the loyal, kind, lovely daughter, granddaughter, sister, aunt, girlfriend and genuine friend that she was to us all here today.

All of us here loved Kate very much. When I was at University and used to hog the telephone for hours in our house,I would always end the telephone call to my parents with the words I LOVE YOU but in Welsh.  They are translated to CARU TI. 

Kate loved those words and she would giggle every time I would end a call. So Kate, keep giggling. CARU TI