The 23rd of May 2019 will mark the first anniversary of my mum’s premature passing and I am taking on a huge challenge to mark it and raise money for a fantastic cause.

In October 2015 my wonderful mum was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer with no chance of recovery and only palliative care to prolong whatever time she had left. Mum didn’t let this diagnosis hold her back and always managed to stay positive even through some really tough times. She loved life and I truly believe her attitude and positivity kept her on this earth a little longer than she would have had without it.

In her final few months, my family and I made it our mission to make her as comfortable as we could. I did anything I could, and there isn’t anything that I wouldn’t have done for her to give her a better quality of life in that time. I found it really tough to watch her go through that with nothing I could do to take her pain away or make her better.

MacMillan helped us through what truly was the most difficult time in all of our lives. They regularly visited her and gave emotional support, knowing her on a first name basis, joking and laughing and making it just that little bit easier. Not to mention all of the help and support they offered us as a family at such a difficult time. Crucially for us they helped us all deal with the hardest thing of all, to accept that we were losing her.

My mum rarely asked for much and other than a song request the only thing she asked for her funeral was that no one buy flowers. Instead they should put the money they would have used to donate to MacMillan so they can continue doing amazing things for other sufferers and their families..

I was blessed to have her as a role model in my life, not to mention as a Mum. I miss her more and more every day...

This whole ride is dedicated to my Mum, Wendy O'Brien and will raise money for MacMillan who completely represent who she was as a person - Caring, Selfless, Loving and Supporting. £53,788 will pay for a nurse for the year (I will explain more about what they do on my instagram and facebook updates throughout the ride) so that's my target for this massive challenge. 

Other than a few spinning classes here there, I am definitely not a natural cyclist and anyone that knows me wouldn’t describe me as “fit” or anywhere close... This isn’t going to be easy but I am determined to complete this challenge in honour of my mum and raise as much money as possible for a very deserving cause.

I thought I would also mention that 100% of your donation will go to MacMillan as I am completely self funding the trip. 

Thank you for hearing our story, I hope you can follow my journey and help us raise as much money as possible!