“Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious. And however difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at.
It matters that you don't just give up.”- Stephen Hawking

Nothing can prepare you when someone you love very much is diagnosed with a terminal illness.  But you muddle through, you find a way to live and over the last few years, when life has been tough I have always found great strength in these words of Stephen Hawking. We both did. We didn't give up and I won't give up now.

On August 10th it would have been our 30th wedding anniversary and I plan to celebrate the life we had together by cycling 100 miles, from London, through Surrey and back.  I have never ridden so far in my life.  But that doesn't mean I can't.  Without a doubt, Ken would have thought I was mad. Raving. Totally lost it.  Maybe I have.  But I am going to do it, because “it matters that you don't just give up".

Once we knew that the brain tumour couldn't be controlled we came home, and with the constant support of our devoted family, friends and medical staff we cared for Ken right to the very end.

Never under estimate the gift of a good night’s sleep.

When he was no longer able to communicate Ken needed someone to watch over him whilst we slept. The Marie Curie Nursing Service gave us that gift. Their quiet, gentle presence in our home overnight meant we were able to sleep in the secure knowledge Ken was in safe hands.

Marie Curie Cancer Care is a UK charity whose focus is to provide a better life for people and their families living with a terminal illness. By making a donation to the charity by sponsoring me, whether large or small, you’ll be making sure people living with a terminal illness get the care and support they and their families need to make the most of the time they have together.

The Marie Curie nurses were our 'angels' and this is my way of saying 'thank you'.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.