My mother died in February 2015 and had been receiving treatment for advanced ovarian cancer since 2012. She had surgery and four different chemotherapy treatments continuously since her diagnosis in February 2012. My mother has been through many challenging times,  including bringing my sister and I up as a single parent whilst working multiple jobs.  She is the most inspirational person I know and no matter what she has a smile at all times. Anybody who knows her would say she is a celebrity in her own right! 

I believe that her strength and positive outlook contributed to her being able to see both Daughters married and me having my first child. 

I ran the London Marathon two months after her death, the challenge enabled me to turn my grief into something positive and running alongside all those other people with amazing personal and charity causes was one of my life’s biggest privileges. Six years later, I am lucky enough to be fit and healthy and ready to take on a new challenge, as a trainee cyclist, with my first adult bike! .  Not to worry, with the support of my family and friends I know I can do it. 

I want my children to understand the importance of charity, hope and determination in challenging times and how from sad circumstances positive outcomes can be born. 

Together we can help our daughters, nieces, mother’s and girlfriends recognise when their bodies might be trying to tell them something is not quite right,  giving them and the health care services the valuable seconds that count.