It’s hard to believe it’s been 9 weeks since we lost my mam, I still can’t quite believe we’re living in a world without her in it. It feels like only yesterday but forever since we were holding her hand.

If you knew my mam, you’ll know exactly what I mean when I say she made life feel safe. She was the kind of person whose love lived in the ordinary. She gave her love so freely and so constantly that you almost didn’t realise how much of life was held together by her until everything suddenly felt quieter without it.

She was funny, silly, clever, selfless and endlessly kind. She made people feel cared for wherever she went. Throughout her illness, she carried herself with more strength and bravery than most people could ever imagine.

In her final weeks (and especially days) the care and support from Teesside Hospice meant more to our family than I could ever properly explain. They cared for mam with such warmth, dignity and compassion, but they also cared for us as a family. In the hardest moments of our lives, they somehow managed to make things feel gentler. We will never stop being grateful for that.

So this year, I’m going to be taking on a series of runs to raise money for Teesside Hospice in mam’s honour:

• Teesside Hospice - 31 Miles in May

• Northallerton 10K
 - 24th May

• Race for Life 5K
 - 30th May

• Race for Life Muddy 5K
 - 30th May

• Middlesbrough 10K – 30th August


• Great North Run
 - 13th September

I keep coming back to something mam once said to us that she never stood on the sidelines because she had to, she was there because nothing mattered more than watching the people she loved giving life their best shot.

So this is me, giving it mine in a way that feels doable at the moment.

Every mile is for her. For the way she loved us. For the strength she showed and for the care Teesside Hospice gave our family. And for all the other families who will need that same care and kindness in the future.

If you’d like to support, donate or share, it would mean so much to us 🤍