My mum was the strongest and bravest woman I have ever met, she had a real thirst for life and never missed an opportunity, even up until her last days she lived every day to the full. That doesn't mean to say go and do something adventurous everyday but just enjoy yourself, appreciate everyday, even the bad ones. In the summer of 08 (5 months diagnosed) she managed to come 5th in the race for life, running was one of my mums many passions. However, as my mum would agree one of her greatest accomplishments was just managing to finish the race for life last year. She could no longer run, but she managed to complete the whole thing and didn't come last. Family and friends were extremely important to her and she would go out of her way to help a stranger before she was to help herself. She would see the positive in everyone, she was a great believer in giving everyone a chance. I am sure that all her close friends and family can think of a least one thing my mum went out of her way to help you with. She was always there for me, even when I was a difficult teenager. She was an extremely hard working woman, she would always put in 110% with everything that she did. She was proud of not only me but of all the children she taught and I am sure they will continue to make her proud, as will I. I have so much determination to do well, all the fire I have got to make a success of myself comes from my mum and I have promised myself I will never disappoint her. I just hope I can become half the woman my mum was, in some respects I feel she has passed the baton on to me to help others the way she has. If there is life after death I know that she will be extremely happy with her best friend Chaddy (her dog). I don't know whether I believe in heaven or not but either way I know her spirit will live on with everyone she knew.