We all have a special woman in our lives: it might be your mother, sister, aunt, cousin or a friend. Chances are you don’t see them every day but they are always at the end of the phone when you need them, and this person always seems to know the right thing to say, no matter what the situation. This week, our real woman is Mary Connell. Mary was nominated by her daughter Sonia who tells us, in her own words, why her mother deserves to win: "My mother is a hero, she was diagnosed with lung cancer in October 2012, and straight away she became determined to do what she needed to do to get better. She had a part of her lung removed, went through numerous bouts of chemotherapy, and lost all her hair. She was then diagnosed with an abdominal aneurysm, four months after the cancer diagnosis. She had two operations to deal with this and again, dealt with it in a way that would put the the toughest person to shame. Her hair is growing back, she's getting the glad rags on and heading off out into the world with a fierceness that couldn't be rivaled by someone half her age." "She has always been a trailblazer and has ensured all of her children have determination, confidence and a sense of place in the world. She brought four of us up completely on her own in an Ireland that wasn't as supportive as it should have been. She is stubborn, particular and a fighter. I love these things about her, even though those are the traits that mean we butt heads sometimes. She is hilarious without even trying. She is adored by her children, her grandchildren and great grandchild. I love the fact that 30 years ago when it was unheard of, she changed her name back to her maiden name after being separated. She was and is a trailblazer, completely unaffected by what people think. I think it's this individualism and strength of character that has meant she defied the odds this past year. It's this individualism and strength of character that I think she should be recognized and celebrated for." We hope Mary enjoys her €100 voucher, and if you have someone in mind for our Real Woman Of The Week please get in touch. Readers should submit their entries to info@her.ie and should also include an image of their nominated woman. Maybe it’s your sister who is studying hard for exams while juggling childcare, or a neighbour who cares for their elderly parents. It could be your Mam who is always there with encouraging words no matter how many times you fall or a friend who always makes you laugh, even when things seem bleaker than ever before. Whoever it is, we want to hear from you!