ALISON HOLMES

On the 24th March 2015 my life changed forever as I watched my darling cousin Andy take his final breath. He had courageously fought a 3 year battle with bowl cancer.

The year that followed was a roller coaster of survival, grief and depression.

By November 2016, I decided to make some changes. After twenty years of retail had taken its toll, I realised that I had to change my work/life balance to improve my own health. I spoke with one of the guys at Transition Fitness, a personal training firm, and we began a journey of both mental and physical enlightenment – who was to know where the journey would take me.

Ever since I made this change, my journey has been filled with achievements; I ran my first 10 km, hill climbed, mountain biked and returned to the pool after 30 years out. More recently, I have set sights on my first ever Sprint Triathlon. Some big achievements for me but it is the small ones that mean just as much. I am the fittest I have been in years, I have learnt about my capabilities but most of all, I make every day count.

I am here today, writing this because I lost some one I love. Andy has made me determined to live life to the full, he is with me always.

Together we can make a difference.