In May last year, my Mum, Sophie Fitzpatrick passed away having had a 3 year battle with a very rare type of cancer called Goblet Cell Carcinoma (GCC). According to the National Organisation for Rare Disorders an estimated 1 in 2 Million people are diagnosed with GCC.

She was not only a devoted Mother to me and my three brothers, but also a grandmother, wife, aunt, godmother and true friend to countless people.

Throughout her life, Sophie radiated selflessness and kindness. She possessed an unwavering spirit of empathy, always ready to lend a listening ear or offer a helping hand to those in need. Her heart overflowed with love and her actions spoke volumes about her character. Sophie embodied the essence of what it meant to be compassionate.

As Sophie embarked on her journey through treatment and recovery, she discovered a startling truth—research and knowledge about her particular type of cancer were scarce. It was as though she was fighting a silent battle, surrounded by a medical community unfamiliar with the intricacies of her illness. Determined not to be defined by her disease, Sophie demonstrated immense strength, courage and an unwavering ability to live life exactly the same as she had before the disease.

Therefore, to continue her legacy we are making it our mission to raise awareness and funding for research into rare cancers like hers, through the Sophie Fitzpatrick Foundation for Rare Cancers. We envision a world where no one would face the devastating diagnosis of a rare cancer alone, where answers and solutions would be readily available to all who needed them.

One of Mum's hopes was to be able to walk the Cornish coastline whilst she was undergoing treatment, something she never managed to do. I have taken it upon myself to solo kayak the entire Cornish Coast this summer. The Cornish coastline extends for 422 miles, and the kayak will total 380km which I'm hoping to achieve in 10 days (subject to weather).