THE first time I did the Race for Life was June 19, 2005.

Why does the date stick so vividly in my mind? Well, it was the day before my mum’s funeral.

I hoped when I booked my slot for the race she would be able to watch me. Sadly that wasn’t to be and she died on June 10 from a chest infection after suffering from lung cancer.

To say I was devastated would be an understatement.

She was my best friend and I miss her every single day.

But that first Race for Life helped.

I knew I wasn’t alone in losing a loved one and it gave me a lot of hope.

Quite a few of the women running stopped me as we went round after reading on my back that I was running the day before the funeral.

They were fantastic and really gave me hope that I would feel happy again.

As you can see in the picture I ran yesterday’s race as a bride.

It is less than nine weeks until I tie the knot with fellow Post reporter Richard Down.

I ran for “The Mother of the Bride” and kept her in my thoughts as I jogged around the course with my friend Pippa.

My mum would have loved to have seen me get married. I have organised the wedding on my own and missed her every step of the way.

She would have been in her element helping me organise our big day and I so wish she had met Richard. She would have loved him.

Her last wish for me was that I was happy. Engraved on a bracelet she has left for me to wear on my wedding is “Always be happy”. And I am.