I lost my mother (Helen) who had been diagnosed with Cancer. She went in for surgery to remove it, though unfortunately never woke up which I found extremely traumatic and led me to go through so many different emotions: denial, shock, guilt, anger, depression...

I have felt them all in the aftermath so its true to say I have never experienced a force more powerful than that of grief.

Grief really isn't spoken about enough yet it is something we will all unfortunately experience at some point in our lives. Whilst no two journey's with grief will be the same, for me my journey has reminded me of the interconnected nature of our shared humanity. It has also reminded me that it is the price we pay to love and I find something quite comforting about that at this point in my own journey with it.

I recognise that there is always someone worse off than myself and whilst losing my Mum so young has devastated me, I try to focus my mind to the positives. I feel so incredibly lucky today to have had this time with her, to have supported her through her illness and just prior to that period in which she fell ill, I look back and think for a brief moment life was almost perfect. 

Losing my Mum has been the hardest thing I have ever had to come to terms with but I am determined to make good of it by finding ways to channel my pain into something positive which is why I am running the Brighton Half Marathon for Grief Encounter. 

They do incredible work to support Bereaved children and young people through counselling, workshops, music therapy, residentials and so much more. 

These children and young people may not have the same understanding of grief and loss as I did as an adult, they may not have the same support system around them and so the work that this charity do is so vital in helping them to navigate their grief and find a way forward.

Thank you for getting behind this incredible charity and my Brighton Half Marathon.

I love you Mum