Rosie Scribble

Together we are amazing

I may have missed something somewhere along the line, but a recent email from BritMums alerted me to a new campaign called Mums Stands Together aimed at encouraging mums to support and respect each other. There are further details on the The Mummy Whisperer’s BritMums post - Stop Slagging off Your Sister!  

The email from BritMums arrived in my inbox on my way home from the school run, and I have to admit to feeling a little deflated. I’d logged onto Twitter earlier that afternoon feeling isolated working from at home, and I’d been greeted with a fun and friendly community that gave me a much-needed boost, as Twitter often does.

So it came as a blow to discover there is a need for a campaign to bring mums together and support each other. I’d been completely unaware. 

Tesco Charitable Mum of the Year 2012

Here's a moving, inspirational story to kick off your week, which we would never have known about if one young boy hadn't decided to nominate his mum.

The prestigious Tesco Charitable Mum of the Year Award has been won by Sharon Sambrook from the West Midlands. Sharon has raised £90,000 for The Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust Ben Sambrook Fund – an umbrella group she set up in her son’s name – to help fund clinical trials into brain tumours. She also works to support families whose children have been diagnosed with a serious illness or disability.

Sharon was nominated by son Ben who at twelve years old has already experienced more than many. Ben was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour aged just seven. Sharon and her husband faced the trauma of caring for their son as he went through a six-hour operation to remove the tumour followed by radiotherapy and, due to the kind of tumour Ben had, adult chemotherapy which had to be administered at home by Sharon.

There is currently no cure for Ben’s type of tumour, but against the odds he has been clear for four years, and goes for regular scans to ensure the tumour has not returned. On nominating his mum for a Tesco Mum of the Year Award, Ben said:

“I survived the brain tumour with big thanks to my mum and dad. My mum just wants other parents to get support and not feel so alone.”

The staggering fact that brain tumours account for more deaths among children and those under the age of 40 than any other cancer propelled Sharon into action, making her determined to generate funds for research into brain tumours in the hope of a scientific breakthrough. Since 2007, Sharon has raised a staggering £90,000 through a continuous stream of events including themed charity balls, tribute nights, sponsored sporting events and tea parties.

The Tesco Mum of the Year Awards is now in its seventh year. The judging panel, including Michelle Mone OBE, Arlene Phillips OBE, Denise Lewis OBE, Emma Forbes, our very own Tara Cain and Tesco magazine representatives, reviewed thousands of entries before selecting the winning mums.

Sharon, along with seven other winners, will be presented with her Tesco Mum of the Year Award at a glittering star-studded ceremony in London in March 2012. Many congratulations to each and every one of them.

Visit Tesco Mum of the Year Awards for more information.

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The Gallery: Black and white

It isn’t until they are miles away from you playing happily on a beach that you realise how much colour children can add to your life.

But then there is always chocolate, cake, Monsoon, Gap, Jigsaw and, I’ve discovered, a newly opened branch of Costa Coffee in Nottingham.

So childfree is good, but only for a few days. Any longer than that and distinctly odd behaviour can result, I’ve discovered.

I prove my point.

This week’s gallery theme is black and white.

Book review: Where has my little girl gone? By Tanith Carey

Like many parents, the widespread availability of online pornography, the early sexualisation of children and the rise in eating disorders in young people are all areas that concern me greatly. I’m keen to keep my daughter protected without stifling her and I’m committed to giving her the tools to go out into the world prepared and educated so that she can lead the fullest life possible.  I then want her to pass the same information on to her own daughters.

Tanith Carey’s new book Where Has My Little Girl Gone? has proved an excellent source of information in my efforts to get it right for my daughter and help prevent many of the problems I know children can experience - problems that can impact on their lives late into adulthood.

Tesco Mum of the Year Awards 2012

Do you know an amazing mum who deserves a special thank you? Tesco Magazine are looking for incredible women to honour at their Tesco Mum of the Year Awards next year and are now inviting nominations.

Now in its seventh year, the 2012 awards will be the biggest yet so Tesco Magazine are keen to find the unsung heroes of our local communities, the extraordinary women who make an incredible difference to the lives of those around them and who deserve special recognition.

Do you know a mum who has:

• Made a difference
• Done something great for their community
• Raised money for a good cause
• Inspired kids to achieve through sport
• Built up a business and helped others
• Campaigned for change.

Why not make a nomination today and celebrate the extraordinary women in our lives who deserve to be honoured for their incredible achievements. You can nominate your own mum, a friend, a colleague or a neighbour who has inspired you.

At this year’s awards Tesco Magazine celebrated women who had developed community centres, worked with the Forces Children’s Trust, set up support groups, joined community rescue teams and even set up charities, and there are so many more inspirational out there with a who deserve recognition.

Nominating is very straight-forward. Simply complete the Mum of the Year nomination form before September 23rd 2011.

Every entry received will be carefully read before a panel of judges and the winning mums selected. The names of the categories are decided once the shortlist has been drawn up. The finalists and their guests will be given a trip to London, where they’ll attend Tesco Magazine’s glittering awards ceremony and lunch, and enjoy a weekend to remember.

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