Celebrate Her
Alice Hooper shares why she celebrated her mother, Maggie Hooper, through our online campaign.
The chance to sponsor Rosa and help other women who may not have had the same start in life of luck that I did felt like the perfect way to honour my mother.
Born in England, my mother spent most of her childhood travelling around the Far East. She still laments the fact that she doesn't have a single childhood friend from those days, and this led her to ensure my brother and I had a wonderful childhood, boasting many long term friends. We too travelled extensively growing up with my father's work, but my mum created the most wonderful family environment with pets, a beautiful garden, and many wonderful meals, jam making sessions and beautiful and creatively inspired cakes. There was even elderflower champagne!
My mother is an incredibly brave woman: before she was 18 she was one of the most successful amateur female jockeys in Singapore. She remains an accomplished horsewoman, and in the late 90s played international polo for Zimbabwe. Last year, whilst playing polo with me, her horse reared its head, breaking her cheekbone and fracturing her eye socket. The doctors said her injuries were on a par with those of a severe road accident. It's testament to my mother's bravery and determination to put her children first at every step that she insisted on sitting on the side-lines - head in hands - whilst I completed the match.
Life hasn't always been easy for our family and I am delighted to be able to celebrate my mother and say thank you for always putting us first, always thinking of others first, for always being you.
(25/03/2009)
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