The last few years have been tough.

Losing my Mum in 2016 was one of the hardest things I have ever been through and I carry the grief of that to this day. She had been ill for 3 years, but the beautiful team at Rowcroft Hospice gave her the comfort and serenity she needed to be able to pass peacefully in the gardens of the hospice on 24th August, 2016.

Her legacy was to bring my family closer together, to check in on each other and to be more connected. My sister, Claire, became the de facto matriarch, the organiser of the family and the one to make sure Mum's legacy continued.

A few years after Mum passed, Claire was diagnosed with breast cancer, which rocked us all once again. She certainly had Mum's strength, determination and resilience, she fought with everything she had and lived her life with a constant smile on her face. On 1st March 2025, Claire sadly succumbed to this awful illness, aged just 47 and our family was ripped apart once again. She only ever wanted to be a Mum to her 2 young kids, but that opportunity was cruelly taken away from her before she had a chance to truly fulfil her destiny.

Having previously worked for Rowcroft Hospice from 2017 until 2021 as a Fundraising Manager, I am acutely aware of the impact the dedicated, compassionate and caring people there have on patients and families like mine. They care for more than 2,000 patients every year, but the loved ones they impact run into the tens of thousands. Those delivering the care can never be properly thanked - they are angels walking among us.

There has been much publicity around the challenges organisations like Rowcroft face. The palliative care system doesn't function without charities like them and they need our support more than ever to make sure that their services, not just those at the Hospice, but the therapies, counselling, and education services, are available for generations to come.

That's why I have chosen to sign-up to trek Kilimanjaro in September 2026. I wanted to challenge myself to do something outside of my comfort zone (I think I've ticked that box!) and make sure I am making the most of every day. I want to recognise the work of the Hospice, to remember my dear Mum and Sister and to raise funds for this vital service, which sits in the heart of our community.

It's a daunting total to try and fundraise, and I'm honest enough to say that this target includes an element of paying for the trek itself (I'd love to be able to pay for the whole trip myself, and will be putting every spare penny of my own money so that is the case), but JustGiving don't take any platform fees. I'll be doing LOTS of fundraising events to make sure they get as much money as possible and every single penny will make a genuine difference to thousands of lives.

Whatever you can give, I appreciate every drop of support.