Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. 

Last year, I lost someone incredibly special to me. Michelle was a trustworthy friend, devoted mother and adoring daughter. She was also a doting auntie to her nephews; something that we very much had in common as well as bonding over the unique challenges of raising a teenager!

We all miss Michelle so much and not a day goes by when I don't think of her. But, I know that she wouldn't want me to cry. I know that she'd rather I did something positive to celebrate her life. Michelle was such an inspiration to me and always encouraged me to believe in myself, no matter what. This is why I've chosen to take on this challenge; to commemorate Michelle and hopefully make her proud.

When I mentored Michelle during her NQT year back in 2017, I remember being totally captivated whenever I watched her teach. She was truly gifted and I will never forget how she mesmerised her little Year One class. Michelle just had such a lovely manner with the children and she touched so many lives during her time as a teacher.

Michelle and I both ended up moving onto different schools but we always kept in touch. I miss our chats and funny messages so much and it still doesn't seem real that I'll never have those again... In particular, Michelle always kept me motivated during my MA studies; on my breaks I'd sit at the desk in my study and chat to her whilst looking out to the garden or I'd have my phone outside with me and we talked while I had a little wander. Now though, even as I type this, the silence when I'm in this part of the house is deafening and every now and again, I still check my phone without thinking, wondering if Michelle has got in touch...

After Michelle received her cancer diagnosis, no matter what happened, she always said, "When" not "If" whenever we talked about the future. We even made plans to go on holiday together last summer... I always thought that Michelle would get better; surely we weren't going to lose her? She had a loving family who adored and needed her, she was so young, we had so many things still to do together... However, Michelle sadly lost her battle in March 2022 at the age of 35, on the same day as my son's 18th birthday and exactly 6 months before my 40th birthday, an occasion that Michelle had been determined to celebrate with me.

Michelle spent her final hours at St Raphael's Hospice, where they did their best to make her as comfortable as possible, and that is why I will be trekking to raise money for this wonderful charity.

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