Charity

Worlds Strongest women

This website is about more than ideas, stories, and products. It’s about trying to make a positive difference wherever I can. Nobody taught me that better than my Nana, Pauline Shutler. She was always there for everyone. No matter what you needed, she would help if she could. She didn’t have a lot herself, but she would happily give what she had just to put a smile on someone else’s face. She was dependable, kind, strong, and someone you could always count on. She was an incredible wife, mother, sister, Nana, and friend, and anyone who met her knew what a special person she was. Sadly, cancer took her from us.

When I lost my Nana, it felt like my whole world fell apart. I had lived with her for 27 years, and she was like a mother to me. Losing her left a hole that I never thought could be filled. If it wasn’t for my amazing partner helping me through those darkest days, I don’t know where I’d be today. What makes my Nana’s story even more incredible is her determination. She lived with cancer for eight years—far longer than anyone expected. Even when she reached the end of her life, doctors believed she wouldn’t have long left, but she continued to fight for another ten weeks because she wanted to stay with the people she loved. I used to joke with her and say, “You can’t go until I tell you that you can.” Towards the very end, when she could no longer get out of bed, I sat beside her and whispered, “It’s okay, Nana. You’ve fought your fight. You can go now.”

It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. I often joke that if cancer were a person, it would shudder at the name Pauline Shutler. Although cancer won the war, my Nana won every single battle along the way. To me, she will always be the strongest woman I’ve ever known. She is the reason I take on charity challenges. Every mile I walk, every hill I climb, and every challenge I complete is in her memory. When things get tough, I think about the strength she showed every single day, and it reminds me to keep going. This page is dedicated to her.

Here you’ll find the charities that meant so much to my Nana, along with the fundraising events I’ve completed and the ones I’m planning next. If you’d like to support one of these incredible charities, every donation—no matter how small—helps families facing battles like the one ours did. I like to think she’s still watching over us, smiling as she sees my little boy grow up, and the little one on the way. Thank you, Nana. I hope I can make you proud.

The journey so far!

Over the years, I’ve taken on a variety of charity challenges in honour of my Nana. From bungee jumps and skydives to muddy assault courses, marathons, and everything in between, each event has been my way of remembering her while raising money for causes that meant so much to her. Every challenge has come with its own obstacles, but whenever I’ve wanted to stop, I’ve thought about the strength my Nana showed throughout her battle with cancer. If she could keep fighting, then so could I. Here are a few memories from some of those events.

“Her kindness shaped who I am. Her strength continues to inspire me every day.”

Who was Pauline Shutler?

Pauline Shutler was born on the 7th of August 1945 in Yorkshire to her parents, Eli and Edith. She was the third of four children and grew up surrounded by a close family. At the age of 21, in 1966, Pauline moved to Guernsey to work in a local pub. It was there that she met the love of her life, Brian Shutler. They married on 30th September 1972, before returning to the UK to settle in Southbourne, Bournemouth, where they raised their two children. As the years went by, Pauline became well known within her community. She took over and ran a local playgroup, where she became a familiar and trusted face to countless children and families. Her kindness, patience, and caring nature made her a true pillar of the community. To me, though, she was so much more than that. She was my Nana, and one of the kindest, strongest, and most humble people I have ever known. She never asked for recognition or expected anything in return. She simply believed in helping others whenever she could. Whether it was family, friends, neighbours, or complete strangers, she always had time for people and would do everything she could to brighten their day. When her grandchildren came along, they became the centre of her world. She loved every moment she spent with us, filling our lives with laughter, love, and memories that I will treasure forever. Anyone who had the privilege of knowing Pauline would tell you the same thing: she was dependable, compassionate, and someone whose integrity was beyond question. She was the type of person who always put others before herself and made everyone around her feel welcome, valued, and loved. The values she lived by—kindness, humility, generosity, resilience, and always helping others—are the values I try to carry with me every day. Everything I do through this website and every charity challenge I take on is inspired by the incredible woman she was. I hope that, through this page, a small part of her legacy lives on.

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Charities Close to My Heart

Every charity I support has a special meaning to me and my family. They each represent something that was important to my Nana and continue to inspire me today.

BBC Children in Need My Nana absolutely adored children, especially her grandchildren. She always wanted to see children happy, safe, and given every opportunity to thrive. Supporting BBC Children in Need is my way of honouring the love and care she showed to every child she met.

The Donkey Sanctuary The Donkey Sanctuary was a charity very close to my Nana’s heart. She loved donkeys and regularly supported the charity herself. By fundraising for them, I feel like I’m continuing something that meant a great deal to her and celebrating the compassion she had for animals.

Cancer Research UK Cancer changed my family’s life forever when it took my Nana from us. By supporting Cancer Research UK, I hope that one day fewer families will have to experience the heartbreak that many families have to go through. My dream is that, through continued research and medical advances, future generations won’t have to lose the people they love to this terrible disease. Every challenge I complete is dedicated to my Nana, and every pound raised is my way of carrying forward the kindness, strength, and generosity she showed throughout her life.