Dr Sam Collins is one of the 'Top 200 Women to Impact Business & Industry' by Her Majesty the Queen. CEO and founder of AspireWomen.co.uk, Sam tells us about her work to celebrate 'Ordinary, Extraordinary Women'.

I’ve always found Mother's Day to be a tough day. I lost my mum to suicide when I was 21 and in my final year of university. Now, 21 years later, I still dread the celebrations and happy mother and daughter dinners, cards and lunches.


This year I decided that, as weird as it may seem to some, I wanted to celebrate my mum and other women who have passed away like her. I came up with an idea for International Women’s Day that is now extending into Mothers Day.

What if I could create and an online celebration of the ordinary yet extraordinary women we've lost and who made a difference in our lives?

My goal - to show the world the amazing women who did so much for us and immortalize them with other like minded spirits. Without them, we would not be where we are today. Oh and to not get so sad on Mother’s Day!

I figured that there are accolades and fame for the women who achieved great things in the business, political and entertainment worlds. But what about the women who spent their lives without fame or
traditional accomplishment, who worked all hours, got up in the night for us, worried for others and who never put themselves first? 

This was my chance to remember what an amazing woman did for me and give her the fame she truly deserves! 
"Gillian Collins, who died on October 28, 1992. Without her
brilliant sense of humor, example of being a working woman (with great 1980's
shoulder pads) and her love of listening to the radio blaring while smoking and
driving, I would not be here today! Thanks, Mum."

The celebration consists of "Ordinary, Extraordinary" woman (like the one above of my mum) and includes mothers, grandmothers, friends, sisters, aunts and work colleagues.

Please join me in remembering and celebrating the fantastic women in our lives. Let the world know how amazing they were forever!

You can see the celebration HERE, I do hope you enjoy it as much as me (yes, I have gone through a box or 2 of tissues creating it!). Please pass it onto your family and friends so we can show the world how amazing these women were and how we stand in their shoes because of all they did for us.

Happy Mother’s Day!