I met my dear friend Gretel in 1996 when we were both expecting our first child. Since then we have both had incredible journeys of both becoming mothers to two beautiful daughters,  fiercely strong and independent single mothers and we supported each other through the highs and lows. Gretel established her own complementary therapy business and worked incredibly hard to be everything to everyone.

All of us that knew Gretel were heartbroken when we received the news of her terminal diagnosis of stage 4 ovarian cancer. However, despite the numerous challenges that she faced, which included closing her business, she turned this experience upside down - using this time as an opportunity to utilise her creative skills to tell her story. She set up the Orange Elephant Theatre company to use creative arts to explore challenging subjects. Gretel used this platform to perform her play 'Some things are meant to be Anna!' which followed her soul's journey through cancer, two children and a chihuahua. A funny, poignant and honest piece of movement theatre exploring the rollercoaster of living with a terminal illness. I was so proud of her - particularly when she took it to the Edinburgh Fringe and then to her local Sheringham Little Theatre. There was not a dry eye in the house! 

Even in the final weeks before her passing she was running workshps to develop her final project which was a play about men's mental health which will eventually get onto the stage and those of us who knew her will continue to ensure her legacy continues - raising awareness and funds around health issues and the charities that support those living with the conditions.

Supporting my dear friend through the final months of her life was one of the hardest things I have had to do particularly living 100 miles away and not being close enough to see her more than once a month. She has taught me so much about death and how to do it well, and I have been able to share some pretty special moments with her family and friends since. We were meant to celebrate her life at Easter but this has had to be postponed until after lock-down. In reality once Gretel has touched your life you could not forget her. The song she wrote for her play was called Sunshine and Rainbows.  She will always be with me and every time there is a rainbow we all think of her.  

I wanted to do something to raise awareness about this cancer and in memory of my beautiful friend who I miss every day. I therefore challenged myself to ride 100 miles in August in the Prudential Ride London and September in Velo Essex. Unfortunately both events have now been cancelled due the pandemic but I remain committed to completing the miles on the weekends of the original events and I will post updates on here.

I have also decided to go 'back to my roots' and embrace the grey and hope I rock the look as much as Gretel did!

Thank you for your support and taking the time to read this.

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