Anita Roddick, the founder of The Body Shop died suddenly of a massive brain hemmorhage. She was 64. She opened her first store in the south of England in 1976 with no plans to expand.

But over the next 26 years, she grew the first store into more than 2000 in 50 countries. Anita Roddick was green before anyone know anything about green. She introduced us to refilling containers, she employed poor women around the world to make her products, she ensured there was no animal testing of her products and that the ingredients were natural.

In 2002 she stepped down from actively running the company, acting as a consultant and in 2003 she was awarded the title of Dame by Queen Elizabeth.

She was certainly an inspiration to me and many other women who were trying to forge their way while attempting to raise half-way normal children!

Gillian Parrillo
SacWomen