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In 2007, my Mother became ill and was eventually diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Less than six months and only 3 days before her 57th birthday, she passed away with the her family around her bedside. Throughout her devastating illness, it was clear that very little could be done to cure or even slow down this terrible disease and all that remained in the later stages was to make her as comfortable as possible during whatever time she had left. The heart was ripped from our family when she died. We all miss her terribly and always will.

'Our Ma' was the sort of mother who would always put others first and while growing up, I never felt unsafe at home or insecure in our surroundings. She taught me an enormous amount, both directly through teaching and indirectly through example. While on some occassions in my youth, I didn't always give her reasons to be proud of me; on others, I hope I did but regardless of what I was doing, she would often tell me that she was proud of my attitude towards life. This extended to my love of motrocycles and she was there right at the very beginning when I was about 5 or 6, persuading the bloke at the 'minimum height restriction' board of the Royal Signals mini-motorbike assault course, that although a couple of inches shy of the mark, I'd be fine and wouldn't hurt myself or anyone else. I was indeed fine and those few minutes of exhilaration riding a motorbike for the first time will live with me forever. Some years later, I turn up at my parents house on a brand new Yamaha and although the nervousness of a parent seeing their baby on a fast motorcycle was clear, so was the barely-masked look of excitement. A pillion ride was duly offered and a short time later, we returned to the family home and as she removed her helmet, I could see a huge grin.

I'll be carrying a photo of Our Ma as I ride from John O'Groats to Lands End. If the photo could talk to me, it would tell me that I "must be bloody mad". If I looked closely, I'm sure I'd just be able to make out a twinkle of excitement in the eyes and the beginnings of that wonderful grin.

Thanks Ma, for everything - x.

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