Extracts from emails
Sophie wrote beautifully and described with real eloquence many of her emotions and thoughts about her cancer. In the extracts below it is easy to understand why she has inspired so many people. She also shows us all what it means to live and what is important in life.
I have felt like I have been falling through a very deep black hole and very alone, not knowing how this will all end. I know that there is an immense wall of support surrounding me, but at the end of the day this is my battle and only I can fight it. I hate all this and it makes me so angry …….But I think that it is this anger that will hold me through and will give me the strength to throw 2 fingers up at it and dig in deep. Life is too fantastic not to fight for.
Life is incredibly special and I feel like hugging the air when I am down on the sea front, with the sun on my face, the turquoise waves crashing on the beach, children’s laughter as they stumble up the beach, Rob’s arm around my shoulder and a feeling of wanting to freeze that moment forever. That’s why I keep at it
I am scared,I’m having a lot of memories coming back of the previous ops and they were very lonely and difficult times when ultimately you are on your own and you are frightened, but only you can go through it; it is a very real reminder that at our beginning and at our end we are on our own
Here are a few messages Sophie received from friends that helped her find the strength to smile through the adversity
One day I met you and realized what friendship actually meant. You are truly inspiring, you deserve everything life can offer.
Your love shines like an inspirational beacon, thank you for helping us to see what is really important in life.
Someone once told me that you can be living with cancer or you can be dying from it – you certainly live with it.
Please add your comments or messages below
Visitor Comments & Messages
I used to work with Sophie at Courage in the 90’s and have fond memories of my time in the Reading sales team. What started with a web search for some old friends from the past resulted in me seeing your article in The Mail Online and finding out this terrible news. My thoughts are with you, she was a fantastic girl who lived life to the max! Congratulations to you and your friends for your fantastic fund raising efforts! Sophie would be so proud of you all.
— Stewart Reynolds · Sep 4, 07:28 PM · #
Sophie is an inspiration to all of us. If I have half the determination she had in the same situation I would be blessed. God has a wonderful addition to his team up there that's for sure! Good luck all of you in the marathon. Hope the party last night was as good as I imagine! Lots of love. God Bless.
Nix x
— Nicki Sharpe · Feb 8, 12:27 PM · #
I first met Sophie & Rob in Winnipeg (Canada), as they were visiting for their friends (Rob & Chantal) wedding.
On meeting Sophie I was struck by what a genuine, lovely lady she was, and remember thinking to myself that you don’t often meet people as nice as her. Her husband Rob grew up in Stow, the small town that I am from in the Cotswolds, and I remember chatting to them both about familiar places and moving to a different country as we had both done.
Someone told me after I had met Sophie that she had cancer and I hoped against hope that she would pull through; she had such a zest for life and you could see the love her and her husband felt for each other.
It was with sadness today that I found out that she had died, after receiving an e-mail regarding the marathon. It had often crossed my mind as to how Sophie was doing. It sounds like she braved her battle with the courage of a Lion, and is so inspirational to everyone by continuing with the things she loved and did not let it get her down.
She has put a lot of my own personal issues into perspective for me and I am going to try my hardest to be a better person and to live my life to the full; instead of being scared of it, just as she had done.
Rest in Peace Sophie and continue all you are doing to remember her, by raising awareness and honouring her memory. Sharon Temple.
— Sharon Temple · Jan 7, 12:51 PM · #
Couple of words to tell, even if I met her only a few times, Sophie was a true expression of courage and dignity with a Smile. I won’t ever sense what she’s been through but, as a marathon runner, pain is somehow familliar but stops at 26 Miles. Hers days were a continous marathon and she never failed. For all the Rome competitors, keep your heads up because Sophie was ever up!
— Yann · Jan 7, 09:06 AM · #
I just wanted to write to you offering my condolences. I read the article about Sophie in the Mail and was so touched by her strength and spirit. She fought this awful disease for so long and is an inspiration to other sufferers. I wish you all the best of everything in your future.
— Siobhan O'Mahony · Nov 24, 10:32 AM · #
Hi Rob,
I just finished reading your article in the ‘Daily Mail’ online. Sophie sounds a really special lady. Thank you for being so open about your situation, I’m sure Sophie would have been thrilled to think of how many people you both have inspired to battle on through their own particular situation, via this article.
It’s been five years now since my lovely (Japanese) wife, Yukiko, died in our home here in the UK, aged 48. We only had eight months from her diagnosis to her death in April 2003. It was clear that her slight Japanese frame wouldn’t cope with major ops – in fact, even the first attempt at chemo’ nearly finished her off…at that point she said the equivalent of ‘stuff it!’ – and we raced back to Japan for some final goodbyes, and to show our Hannah and Ian our two kids (then 10 an 12 respectively – now 16/18) the world their mum had grown up in and ;ook round many of Yukiko’s special places.
As a result of her death, I started as a vollie (volunteer) at Winston’s Wish (see www.winstonswish.org.uk) and now work for them full time. Being born disabled I can’t run a marathon but I can help in this way.
Good luck for the future Rob. Keep Sophie’s memory gleaming and treat yourself little and often – you deserve it! Keep inspiring people via Sophie – and have a great marathon!
Blessings,
Tony Dalby (53) in Cheltenham.
— Tony Dalby · Nov 20, 05:56 AM · #
After reading your most moving article in the Daily mail , felt that I had to tell you it brought back many memories of my own dear wife Angela who passed away March 2003 she fought the good fight without one word of complaint
It leaves a huge void in ones life ,you are doing the right thing they say time is a healer which in a sense is true but one does not wish to forget the past and nor should we
However the moving on process takes time and in time I hope you manage to meet some one who will be a companion for you no one will replace your beloved Sophie and nor should they it will be different but you must in due course move on as I am sure you will if not for your sake but in Sophies memory
Wish you well and success in the future
Roger Dembina
— Roger Dembina · Nov 19, 07:10 PM · #
Your story touched my soul. As someone who has lost my husband to heart disease. I think what you are doing in her name is inspiring.
— Stacy Richie · Nov 18, 08:31 PM · #
I am proud to say that Sophie worked for me at Courage and was one of the nicest people I have ever worked with. She was hard working and dedicated but loved it when we able to party at some function or other. I remember how determined to live life to the full she was when her illness was first diagnosed and I was so pleased she was able to do a lot of the things she planned before her untimely death. When people think they have problems if they knew what Sophie went through they would realise how insignifiacnt they are in comparison. Sophie was far too young to die but I am pleased to have shared quite a lot of time with her and am so glad I knew her.
— Dennis O'Gara · Nov 18, 08:27 PM · #
I read about Sophie in todays Daily Mail and feel inspired by an amazing lady. I too had an amazing lady who died 26 years ago today from breast cancer aged 32.
She inspired everyone who came into contact with her and during her illness taught the mentally handicapped. We were fortunate that we met when she was 18 and had the time to have 3 children which is her legacy to me.The similarities between Sophie and Patricia are many and like Rob I wanted to run a marathon.
This I did in July 1984 when I completed the Manchester Marathon in aid of the Christie Hospital Manchester.
Good Luck Rob
— mike carney · Nov 18, 08:09 PM · #
I have just read about Sophie in the Daily Mail. I am incredibly moved by this amazing person. God Bless Rob.
— Annie · Nov 18, 03:51 PM · #
I had the privilege to know Sophie during her time in France. Sophie was a vibrant and sparkling woman and could teach us all about living our life – you are greatly missed X
Susan
— Susan Faragher · Nov 18, 12:33 PM · #
What an inspirational woman with such an overwhelming love for life
— Caitriona Byrne · Nov 18, 12:33 PM · #
I saw your story in the daily mail.I lost a cousin to cancer in 2005 and she too fought with all she had. Sophie looked like a wonderful and beautiful lady. I wish you all luck in your fundraising and will keep her in mind as an inspiration when the little things in life get me all crazy. Jackie xx
— Jackie · Nov 18, 10:15 AM · #
Sophie epitomised the saying “a woman that could smile in trouble, gather strength from distress and grew brave by reflection”
— Derrick Sanyahumbi · Nov 10, 06:43 AM · #