THE DREAM

The Dream

1. A Life of Feeling

I’ve always lived in a world of feeling. Even as a child, I could sense the weight someone carried just by walking past them — the sadness tucked behind a smile, the ache hidden in silence. I could feel it all. That deep empathy shaped everything I became.

I never understood why we didn’t treat all beings as equal. Why some animals were beloved pets while others were served at the dinner table. Why kindness wasn't the default when helping someone would cost us so little. The contradictions of the world around me made my heart ache, and I promised myself early on: when I grew up, I would do everything I could to soften the suffering of others.

2. Protecting Sensitivity

As I grew older, that sensitivity deepened. I learned to protect my energy — avoiding news, television, and social media — not out of ignorance, but to remain steady enough to serve. I didn’t want to be paralysed by fear or heartbreak; I wanted to bring healing, even in small ways.

At 17, I was offered a record deal with RCA. It should have been a dream — but even then, my mind was filled with plans to live in Ethiopia and care for children in orphanages. I thought music might be the path to funding those dreams. But I never enjoyed singing in front of others. When a second deal came, I tried again, pushing past my discomfort. Still, it didn’t fit. Eventually, I left the contract behind and returned to the path my heart had always known — humanitarian work.

3. Motherhood & Mission

At 22, I gave birth to my daughter — my greatest blessing. When her father and I separated before her second birthday, my world shifted. Life became about survival and protection, ensuring she was safe, loved, and never without. Every decision I made revolved around her.

By 26, I founded Raw & Juicy — the UK’s first juice cleanse company. It was born out of a desire to help people with disordered eating, to nourish them with care, not shame. And for many years, it transformed lives.

But as the wellness industry grew, juice cleansing became a trend — stripped of the heart and healing it once held. I refused to dilute my mission for popularity. While Raw & Juicy still exists, it no longer participates in “New Year, New You” marketing or empty fad culture. My service has always been about depth, not volume.

4. The Voice in the Dream

Now, 20 years have passed. My daughter is the age I was when I had her. Having been a young mother, I’m now 45 and finally free to step fully into a new chapter — one where I can serve others more deeply without compromising the experience of being her mother.

After my father passed away, I gave myself permission to pause — to stop rushing, and to wait for something that felt truly right.

And then came the dream.

In it, a sick, frail dog wandered into a restaurant with his mate. They were turned away by the owner, disgusted by the dog's appearance. Later, seeking shelter in a parked car, the dog was beaten by a woman who also found him repulsive. I woke up with a voice — clear and undeniable — echoing in my head:“This is what you are meant to do.”The words repeated, over and over, pulling me out of sleep.

5. The Dog from the Dream

Five months later, in Boracay, I saw him — the very dog from my dream. He was real. Limping, sick, barely hanging on. I had dengue and pneumonia, I was weak, but something stronger pulled me to him. I couldn’t walk away.

In trying to help him, I saw what most visitors never do: the suffering that exists beneath the beauty. People and animals surviving, barely. That dog — silent, broken, and trusting — opened my eyes to what truly needed healing. He didn’t survive. But he lit the path that led me here and i will honour him always.🐾🩷

He showed me the shadows of paradise.

6. Finding the Light

In those shadows, I found light. I was welcomed into the Ati tribe — sacred, humble, and so often forgotten. They embraced me, and now I dedicate this chapter of my life to uplifting theirs.

This charity was born from that dog, that dream, that moment of truth. I’ll share more of the journey in time. But for now, I honour the little soul who arrived to remind me why I’m here.

And now — here you are, reading these words.

Life has a way of circling back to where we began. And gratefully, so do I.

And in those shadows, I found light. I was welcomed by the Ati tribe — sacred, generous, and so often overlooked. They embraced me as one of their own, and it is now my greatest honour to dedicate this next chapter of my life to serving them, and others like them.

The story of how this charity came to be is a longer one, and I will share it in time. But for now, I want to honour the small, helpless dog who carried a message from my dream into waking life. He didn’t survive — but what he revealed, and what he inspired, most certainly will.