Trudie Styler Instagram – Honouring Mother’s Day all month long! 💕 This week I wanted to honour and pay tribute to an incredible Mother, Maria Garofalos. We first met in Ecuador in 2007 while I was campaigning for access to safe drinking water in the rainforest communities of Sucumbíos and Orellana with @rainforest_fund. Maria and her five children lived close to an oil drilling station, surrounded by pollution. For years the illegal dumping of toxic waste had caused a catastrophic health crisis in the area. Exceedingly high cases of cancer, childhood leukemia, and birth defects were prevalent. Maria and Sylvia, one of her eldest children, were both being treated for cancer, believed to be the result of drinking contaminated water. Each week Maria and Sylvia made the 300 km round trip to Quite for medical treatment. With little money, Maria would often sacrifice her own chemotherapy, sending Sylvia if there was only enough for one bus fare. Her selflessness and courage as a mother stays with me today. She represents all that is valuable; her towering strength and support for her children, putting them first no matter what, despite her own sickness. Today, I’m happy to say she and all her children are fit and well and Maria has just celebrated her 50th Birthday, surrounded by her loving children 💚💚! Happy Mother’s Day Maria.