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On Feb 22nd 1997 on a snowy, cold winter night, I found myself on a bus coming home from a night out in Manchester. It was around 12.30am and I was alone at the back of the bus when after about 4 or 5 stops a group of 3 women and a man got on and came and sat at the back. As It turned out the one sat nearest to me was Louise, we got chatting and it was as if we'd known each other for yrs, so much so that when they came to their stop in Didsbury Lou asked me if I was getting off the bus with them, so I said ok, as I did half of the bus started cheering and the other half were saying awwwwww. 15 mins later we were sat in a flat on a sofa holding hands as if we'd been together for ever. That was the start of a rollercoaster ride of the most intense relationship I will ever be a part of.

 Over the next 17yrs we went on holidays together, bought a house together, got engaged, split up, got back together, Louise worked hard to be able to bring up her son Nick and loved the jobs she had at Laura Ashley, Next and finally Matalan. Louise truly is the 1 and only love of my life. We were there for each other through family bereavements but we never managed to tie the knot due to me saying we've got all the time in the world to do it.

Then in March 2013 Louise became ill, she was eventually diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis but became really poorly whilst taking medication for it, during this period I had proposed to Louise nothing to do with her being ill, I had been planning it for months and she said yes, giving us something to focus on and look forward to.

 After being taken back into hospital in July and having more tests our worst fears were confirmed, Louise had Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma which is a cancer of the Lymphatic nodes. We couldn't believe what we were hearing as it wasn't a cancer that you could blame anything on, it wasn't down to smoking, drinking, eating or any other lifestyle choice, it's just a rogue blood cell that doesn't die off.

Treatment, we were told was very effective and the success rate is high, up to 75-80% chance of survival. Louise started chemotherapy in August 2013 and Louise's 2 best friends and I were worried that she wouldn't have the mental strength and fight to get through it. How spectacularly wrong we were, Louise showed over the next 7 or 8 months that she could fight and was going to do whatever it took to beat this, she even got a friend to shave her hair off after 2 sessions of chemo as she didn't want it coming out in patches and she took it all in her stride saying ' I've always wanted to try hats'.

 Early indications and scans were good but as we got through Christmas Louise began to feel tired again and the final scan showed more chemo and a stem cell transplant would be needed, reducing the chance of surviving to 45-65%, but we still believed we could come out the other side.

We finally managed to set a date to marry before the next cycle of chemo started and we booked the only Friday available in between appointments. We married on Feb 14th, yes valentines day, and it was the most precious, wonderful day of our lives, everything was perfect and my wife looked more beautiful than ever, all our family and friends made it such a special day.

 The next 2 cycles of chemo were too intense for Louise and two 5 night stays in Christies were needed as this chemo made Louise so poorly. At the end of April another scan was arranged and on May 9th we went to Christies with Louise's 2 best friends for the results. We came away as if we'd been hit by a run away steam train, we were in shock and devastated, Louise was terminal, there was nothing else and no other treatment that would make a difference. Louise was so strong and it was her that picked us all up, me especially, I've cried every single day since May 9th we're now in September, she faced the thought of dying with strength, dignity and the same passion for life she had always had.

Louise passed away  at 10.40am on 24th July just as she had told me she wanted to, at home in her own bed with me by her side holding her hand.

Louise never blamed never judged and never ever felt sorry for herself, she was the most loving mum, wife and friend anybody could ever hope for she always had a smile on her face, and what a smile it was, just beautiful, every single person that ever saw it will never forget it.

So this is my story about how I found and lost the sweetest woman i've ever known and this is why I want to raise some money for The Christie in memory of our Louise and so that maybe one day in the future a lot less people will feel the way I feel right now.

Thanks, Pete.

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