Its the 25th March 1997 - at 2.30am my father wakes me to tell me the end is near. I'm 15 years old and my mother passes away at home after a long battle with cancer - breast followed by brain. It's the night that The English Patient goes on to win 9 Oscars. I go downstairs and watch the celebrations live on TV. Later that morning my Grandfather arrives by ferry having travelled overnight - I go to pick him up with a friend he is unaware that his daughter has passed and I share the bad news. Rather than return to the house to deal with the pain I ask to go to school for the rest of the day. 

A this point I start to use Alcohol and food more regularly to hide from the pain of losing mum. It's the same year Diana dies and even more pain is brought up by this event. As the years passed I never really deal with the trauma and slowly but surely I put on weight reaching a peak of 21 stone, with heavy drinking and the guilt that follows. Over the years I continue my battles with weight and alcohol but never really manage to get on top of it and become dependent on both to ease my stresses. At the age of 38 I realise that if I don't make a change my children like me could lose a parent at an early age and that is something that sends my mind into overdrive.  

Now at the age of 40 and 25 years on from the death of my mother. I am tackling my demons - I have brought my weight down and kept it stable for over 2 years and I have managed to quit the booze along with a painkiller addiction and turn my life on its head. I have finally been able to greive how I should have done all those years ago and in memory of her I will be tackling my first Ironman to show her just how far I have come and I know just like my photo she will be with me every step of the way. I will be raising funds for Alabare who help people like me who may have suffered trauma and have turned to addiction as a tool to cope. They do so much work supporting families and individuals who have found themselves in a tough situation and support them in finding their feet. Mum would be proud that I am supporting a charity that focuses on supporting individuals who are struggling. 

This challenge will see me swim 3.8km, cycle 180km and run 42km all on the same day around Salisbury on the 25th March 2022 exactly 25 years to the day of my mothers passing. It will be a celebration of her life. Please give generously