Most of you will know my beautiful mum, Jackie Sheppard, bravely fought cancer for ten years and sadly died 2 years ago. Not a day goes by that I don't miss her and want to hear her voice, talk to her, hug her and be with her. Her battle was a tough one that she handled with grace and dignity and I admire her strength enormously. She lives on in me, my sister and my family and she gives us a strength that is hard to describe.

Macmillan were an incredible support to not only my mum but also the rest of my family. They treated us like people, they genuinely cared and alongside all the practical help, they were a shoulder to cry on. They rang just to see how we were, to ask if we were okay. To be honest, at the darkest of times those phone calls and the fact they cared for us was a lifeline.

I'm taking part in the zip wire event to raise money to thank Macmillan for making the hardest part of my life bearable and to enable them to help other families just like us. I'll be celebrating the life of my wonderful mum, she was a bit barmy and I'm sure she'll wholeheartedly approve of me doing this!