IT'S TIME to look back at the stories that made the headlines in Living during 2004.

Love was in the air at the start of the year.

In March, we heard how Bob and Sue White were brought even closer together as they tackled cancer head on.

When Sue was diagnosed with breast cancer, Bob was there to support her through the ordeal and it made him focus on what was important in his life.

"We had no plans to marry, we were quite happy living together. But having seen the struggle that Sue went through, I realised how important she was to me and I didn't want to lose her.

"So I thought it would be nice for us to marry," he said.

This summer, Sue proudly wore the No 1 shirt in the Southampton Race for Life - and Bob was there to cheer her on as she crossed the line at the end of the 5km event.

Also in March, we learned how Jacqui Davies found true love when she visited the Friends Reunited website. She began to e-mail an old friend called Freddie and eventually they arranged to meet.

"We still had lots in common - the attraction was instant," said Jacqui.

"We just sat talking and talking."

In August, the couple were married at Beaulieu.

In the summer, we learned of the academic success of Craig Jordan-Baker. He has battled against dyslexia and dyspraxia - a condition that left him ungainly and clumsy - to graduate with full honours.

The gifted student, who grew up on the Thornhill estate and was labelled a "troubled boy", achieved a first class degree.

His success inspired his mum, Sandra, to return to the classroom.

"I came out of school with no O levels or anything," she said. "Now I have an NVQ3 in Children and Young People and an NVQ2 in Community Development Work.

"I thought if Craig can do it with his disabilities, then so can I. He has been the inspiration for me to become an adult learner," she said.

Freelance writer Nicola Joyce, from Shirley, braved the elements to swim the English Channel and, in her own words, described how she rose to the challenge.

"With my arms turning approximately every second for 14 hours and my legs kicking continuously, pain took over my body from my neck to my ankles.

"When I hauled myself, exhausted and disorientated, onto the sandy beach east of Cap Gris Nez, my overwhelming emotion was not one of jubilation or celebration at a life's goal realised - it was simply a feeling of utter relief," she said.

When Penny Smith and her fianc, Chris, from Totton, married in June they were able to put the upset of the past two years behind them. At the age of 23, Penny developed breast cancer and, through the months of chemo and radiotherapy following the discovery of a lump - the thought of her wedding day helped keep her going.

"It definitely helped having the wedding to look forward to. There have been scary times when I have thought 'what if I don't make it to the date? - but mostly I have been able to stay positive," said Penny.

Brave Sue Middleton opened her heart when she spoke about the murder of her beautiful daughter, Joanne Guy.

The vivacious young mum was strangled by her violent boyfriend, Gavin Henty.

Struggling to come to terms with their loss, the family organised a sponsored walk in Joanne's memory with funds going to Women's Aid.

"If, by keeping Jo's memory alive, we can save just one other woman from a violent relationship - it will be worth it," said Sue.

Tom McInulty's life changed overnight when, the day after his 31st birthday, he went blind.

Doctors blamed a build-up of cyanide in his body for the dramatic loss - and Tom was left to pick up the pieces.

"It was a hell of a shock to wake up and discover I was blind," he said.

Now Tom is using his experiences to help others. He works as an advocate and information officer for the Hampshire association for the Blind.

"Hello, Mummy!" Those were the first words Hampshire mother Katie Cheesman heard her two-year-old son Toby utter.

Katie, 36, started going deaf seven years ago and had never heard her young son speak.

But now, thanks to cochlear implants, she can hear again.

"The sound is very metallic. Everyone sounds like daleks, but it was so wonderful to hear him," she said.

When Aimee Pidgley was born prematurely she weighed less than a bag of sugar and medical experts feared she would not survive. But seven years on she has gone from strength to strength.

Mum Liz, of Redwood Drive, Marchwood, said: "The doctors told us at the time that three babaies like Aimee are born each year and, of those, only one will survive.

"I was so chuffed with her on her sports day because she gave 110 per cent and she was chosen to receive the cup with another little girl on merit, not because she has overcome so much."

Finally, Southampton hosted the biggest and best Race for Life event in the country.

Nearly 10,000 women rose to the challenge back in July and helped raise thousands of pounds for Cancer Research UK.

Organisers are hoping to top the 10,000 mark this summer.