THIS January, we launched our search for the UK’s most inspirational mothers for our second annual Mum of the Year competition – and the response was incredible.
With over 3,000 entries to sift through, we finally whittled it down to a shortlist of 15 brilliant mums who go above and beyond.
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Then our celebrity judging panel – Good Morning Britain’s Kate Garraway, bestselling author Giovanna Fletcher, The One Show’s Angellica Bell and The Sun columnist and author Deborah James – selected our ultimate mum to win a break for two to Champneys Spa including treatments from the Bronze Collection, and two runners-up, who have both nabbed £250 goodie bags and afternoon tea for two with bubbles.
Runner up, Wendy 49, from east London, is mum to Cassandra, 28, Andre, 22, and Dequan, eight. She was nominated by Cassandra.
‘It was so hard being a single mum after my partner was killed’
Cassandra says “Growing up, we didn’t have much, but I had an incredible childhood.
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Mum’s a great cook, so we’d spend time making cakes together.
It wasn’t easy for her, but she made life fun and I have such great memories.
In the last few years, Mum’s been ill and is still in a lot of pain, but she’s fought back and is always smiling.
Now she’s about to get her degree in youth justice, which makes me so proud. When I’m a mum, I’d like to be just like her.”
The Judges
Kate Garraway, 52
The GMB presenter is mum to Darcey, 12, and 10-year-old Billy.
Giovanna Fletcher, 35
The author/vlogger is mum to Buzz, five, Buddy, three, and Max 17 months.
Angellica Bell, 42
The One Show presenter is a mum of two young children.
Deborah James, 38
The author and Sun Online columnist is mum to Hugo, 12, and Eloise, nine.
Wendy says “I became a single mum in 1998, when Cassandra was six and Andre was just nine months. The kids had no further contact with their dad and life was hard, but at the same time it was a joy.
We’d do arts and crafts together, have pyjama days at the weekend, go sightseeing in London and head to Butlin’s on holiday.
I worked full-time in the NHS as a ward clerk then a medical records manager until 2012, while my mum Stephanie, now 83, helped with childcare.
It was exhausting, but I liked to be around people and loved to see them getting better from illnesses.
After meeting my partner Nigel in 2007, we went on to have my youngest, Dequan, in 2011, after which I left the NHS. I then started an Open University degree in youth justice, with the hope of working with young people in the probation services.
I almost threw in the towel on my degree, but luckily Cassandra urged me to carry on.
Wendy, 49
Tragically, in 2015, Nigel was killed in a car crash, aged 52, and I became a single mum again. It was one of the hardest things I’ve been through and I was very depressed after he died. I almost threw in the towel on my degree, but luckily Cassandra urged me to carry on.
In May 2018, I was diagnosed with tuberculosis, and prescribed medication. However, it wasn’t properly monitored, and it caused my pancreas to create too much sugar, which made me go into a diabetic coma.
Andre found me unconscious at home, and I was admitted to hospital for 10 days.
Despite all of this, I’m determined to complete my degree, as I want to make young peoples’ lives better.
Wendy, 49
When I came out of the coma, I was told I had gangrene in my toe, but thankfully the doctors didn’t have to amputate.
Since then, I’ve been in constant pain with my toe, which makes it hard to shower or walk. Despite all of this, I’m determined to complete my degree, as I want to make young peoples’ lives better.
I feel honoured to have come runner-up, and I’ll be taking Cass for afternoon tea as part of my prize. To me, I’m just a mum and I just do what a mum is supposed to do.
Without my kids, I’d be lost, and although it’s been a struggle at times, I wouldn’t have my life any other way.”
*To find out our amazing Mum Of The Year winner pick up Fabulous magazine in the Sun on Sunday this weekend.
