A big hello and thanks for stopping by!  For those who know me, you know my reasons and motivation for raising money for this amazing charity. For those who don't, please read on, and I hope you'll understand by the end of it why I'm making myself do this. Get a glass of wine before you start!

Kris Heath. One of my motivations behind this fundraising. He gave me the best and worst day of my life. 27/03/10 - I married him. 21/10/13, I lost him, to cancer, aged 36.  He was funny, super smart, kind and head strong. Determined, brave, incredible and strong. Also very ill, but he battled every day with a smile and dark humour.  We lived every day to the max, we made precious memories and felt blessed for every day we managed to conquer, for every day we won back as a couple. In your face, cancer.

During Kris's illness, I smiled outside, I was strong.  Inside, my mental health suffered and I was broken. Our lives had become constant roller-coaster – hospitals, doctors, trips to A&E, admission to hospitals in the UK, we never knew what tomorrow would bring.

Enter stage left, Manx Cancer Help. They listened, hugged me and gave me the support I really needed . Don't think leather sofas or lying down for an hour being psycho-analysed. Think  life changing practical and emotional support. Having someone to talk to about my worries meant I could focus all my energy on Kris, and it helped rebalance our chaotic lives, and enabled us to keep our relationship as husband and wife, rather than carer and cared for.

21/10/13 - This amazing human was sadly taken. I wondered how I'd manage without him. With the continued support, love and help from the amazing team at MCH, I slowly started to put my life back together, and five years on, Kris is still missed, and remembered, but the support from MCH helped me to find the strength and courage to move forward and live my life again. I will always be grateful to them. Always.

So to raise money, I'm going to walk to Peel in the Parish Walk. 32. 5 miles. I also pledge to walk 1000 miles in my training, which I'll start on November 1st, so I'll be trying to raise £1032.50, to walk 1032.5 miles.  A pound for every mile I'll walk. Every penny will help this awesome charity to make a difference to the lives of people just like me, like Kris.

If I hit 2000 steps a day at the minute , it’s a miracle, so THIS is going to be a shock to the system to say the least. But I will do it. Why?

I'll do it in memory of Kris, but also for every single person who has the  misfortune to stand in mine or Kris's shoes, so that they can have the help and support they need to be able to carry on with their lives too. We can't change the fact that people get cancer, but we can change the fact that no one should have to go through it alone, ever. 

Thank you for reading, and if you decide to sponsor me, thank you even more. 

Much love, Simone x