In 2014 my nan was diagnosed with terminal Waldenstrom’s non-hodgkins lymphoma. The entire family pulled together to make her final memories resonate. However, my mum was the one that never left her side. In amongst all of this, my mum started getting worsening stomach pains.

After my nan passed in the summer of 2014, my mum went to the doctors and came back with distressing news, late stage diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Over the past few years she has had various NHS chemotherapies and trials, some of which extended her life.

However, a combination of the cancer and infection has now led to fluid build up in her arms, legs and on her lungs, causing breathing and general mobility difficulties. She was urgently admitted to The Christie hospital, where she underwent further chemotherapy to reduce the effect of the cancer, treatment to combat the infection and reduce the fluid on her lungs.

We received devastating news that there were no more treatment options available on the NHS. The doctors said that when her oxygen levels were stabilised, she would be able to come home. Although the thought of losing someone that you love unconditonally is unbearable, this created an overwhelming atmosphere between family and friends. They took DIY SOS upon themselves, and my mum returned to the most beautiful home she could wish for.

Although we explored many other treatment options, the cancer was just too far advanced to quickly. Heartbreakingly, my mum passed away on the 28th April 2018. Throughout the entire 4 year battle, she held her head up high and gave us all hope that she get better and start to live normal life again. She was our rock even though we should have been hers.

In memory of my mum and to give people suffering from cancer at least some of the strength she had, i will be doing various activities over the coming months to raise money. As part of this fundraising, I will be embarking on a fitness challenge, in preparation for eventually climbing one of the tallest mountains in the world. Friends and I will start with climbing the highest mountains in the UK, Scotland and Wales first. After that, my best friend and I will be climbing Mount Hua in China, standing at 2,160 metres (most dangerous trek in the world). Then onto mountains between 5000 and 6000 metres (e.g. mt kilamanjaro) and finally the 8000 metre mountains. Also, I forgot to mention that I am giving up chocolate, as part of getting fit for these challenges. Pretty sure this is harder than climbing a mountain but...you know...

All money raised will be going to various small charities including ’cyclists fighting cancer’ Suggestions are more than welcome 😊

Possibility is a matter of the mind, and the road between impossible and possible doesn‘t become fluent, until you know your why. Love is my why, what is yours?