A terminally ill mother-of-three discharged herself from hospice the day before she died to walk her son to his first day at school.

Gemma Hogg, 31, had been battling with breast cancer since 2008. In January this year she was told the cancer had spread and was now incurable.

A loving mother, Mrs Hogg began preparing her children for life without her.

She had cushions made with her photograph on and the words “When you need a cuddle I'm always there”. She also created memory boxes and wrote a diary.

The family moved from Sutton to Horley to be nearer Mrs Hogg's parents and in the final days of her life Mrs Hogg was being cared for in a hospice in Crawley.

But, although she was growing weaker by the day, she discharged herself from the hospice to walk her four-year-old son Thomas to his first day at school.

Mrs Hogg died the next day, on September 7, surrounded by her husband Simon and their three children, Isabelle, 6, James, 2, and Thomas.

The family are now raising money for St Catherine's Hospice, where Mrs Hogg was being cared for, and tributes have been pouring in to the Just Giving site set up for her.

Alan Forder said: “Gemma, you fought hard but the odds were always stacked against you. Your sunny personality will always be missed.”

Brian and Brenda Leech said: “We have so many wonderful memories of Gemma and we feel so lucky to gave watched her grow into such a beautiful and inspirational woman.”

A spokeswoman for St Catherine's Hospice said: “We are delighted that Mr Hogg is supporting St Catherine's and felt we were helpful.”

To make a donation to the hospice visit justgiving.com/gemmas-journey/6.