Which friend or relative will you bring to mind, as you step out in support of Mountbatten during Walk the Wight? Who is it that you will say, “I remember…” as we walk together across the beautiful Isle of Wight countryside?

This is Michelle's #iremember story. Tell us yours @MountbattenIW

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When I set off for this year’s Flat Walk with my family alongside, I will be remembering my incredible husband, Steve.

Steve had cancer and we spent three months under Mountbatten’s care before he died last year.

Being around the place during that time made me appreciate why Walk the Wight is so important to Mountbatten.

The hundreds of thousands of pounds it raises helps ensure people like Steve and I are so well looked after and cared for.

Steve’s attitude to life was to make the most out of it, and that’s why he wanted to do Walk the Wight in 2019.

His drive and wish to keep going is why I’ll proudly be remembering him when we do the Flat Walk again this year.

People choose to walk for different reasons. Some just want to be part of it, others have someone they want to remember and there are people who know someone in the hospice now.

To us, it just feels so important to raise money because we got to experience how it makes such a difference.

We could not have asked for more – at first, Steve didn’t want to go to the hospice but soon enough he was so happy there.

We were at Mountbatten on the day of last year’s walk and Steve really wasn’t feeling well, and everyone was saying to him not to worry.

But he was so determined to do it, so we agreed we would push him in his wheelchair to the Flat Walk finish and he would get out to walk across the line.

Our family and friends joined us and we met people along the way who said they were taking part because they had seen our story on Facebook - that felt really lovely to us.

As we approached the end, Steve had other ideas and decided he was getting out his wheelchair about 200 yards before the finish. I thought he was mad but that was Steve all over.

He did it and the moment a Mountbatten nurse presented him with his medal was such a lovely touch. It summed everything up really.

People who had seen us on the walk and waited for us to finish were there applauding him – it really was a special and emotional moment.

Walk the Wight really holds a special place in my heart. I often watch the video of Steve finishing and it brings it all back.

Steve was the love of my life and his drive inspires me to keep going - we will have our special Walk the Wight t-shirts this year to remember him.

Images: Sue Blow