My mum. My wonderful, kind, brave mum. Writing this feels very surreal, as I still can’t quite grasp what’s happened, I’m hoping writing this will be cathartic, we will see. My mum was my best friend, closest confidante and undoubtedly my inspiration in life to be as good as I could be. Kind, funny, and beautiful- that was my mum... last year she started losing weight, very slowly, and she also started struggling with swallowing food, it was a very slow thing and something which baffled doctors and hospitals for a long time. My mum always had hope and was always very positive it would be ok- this was her all over. Last November, her weight plummeted to a worrying point and was hospitalised. After months and months of tests, they finally diagnosed her, it was Motor Neurones Disease. Within a space of days she lost her mobility, her speech, and even eye movement. Within the space of a week of diagnosis, she was gone. We were heartbroken. Always brave, one of the last things she was able to say to me was that ‘she was fine’, she never wanted the family to ever worry. Losing our mum, as a family has been without doubt the hardest thing that’s ever happened, people say to me, it gets easier, but in reality, it doesn’t, it gets harder and I miss her more with each day. 

I decided I needed to do something worthwhile, I needed something to focus on and feel positive about, therefore I’m doing the Great North Run in September. Anyone who knows me knows this certainly isn’t an easy feat, but I’m determined to raise some money for Motor Neurone and it gives me something to focus on. If anyone would like to sponsor / donate that would be wonderful.  I know my mum will be cheering me on every step of the way ❤️❤️❤️