She deserves it: Meet the winners of our Mother’s day campaign

As is our tradition at Eve Magazine to honour and reward our readers, the opportunity is here as the world focuses attention on the Mother's Day.Today, in partnership with CateChris Limited, we are celebrating mothers out there and as usual, we made it even bigger and better than ever.

Our hashtags this year were inspired by the relaunch of the new look Standard newspaper, whose redesign was aimed at being more inclusive. In the spirit of inclusivity, the categories this year feature mums who have had to gone the extra mile to raise their children, and so deserve extra recognition..

That special honour went to mothers under four categories: bread-winner mum, single mum, special needs mum and guardian mum, under the main hashtag, #SheDeservesIt To honour these mothers, we asked children who believed their mothers deserved to be celebrated in this way to post a picture of their mothers on the Eve Woman Magazine Facebook page.

Each was then required to caption the picture with a one liner with the corresponding hashtag, telling us why their mother deserved to be celebrated. The finalists in this year's competition were mothers who had the most compelling stories, some of whom have overcome incredible odds just to bring up their children.

#BreadWinnerMum 1. Faith Kiptoo

A picture is worth a thousand words, and in this one shows just a moment of what it has been like for Faith's mum. Her father lost his sight 19 years ago and her mother has supported him since, while at the same time raising her children with unconditional love.

2. Victoria Musyoki

Doing whatever you can for your children is the core of being a mother. Victoria Musyoki's mother is the embodiment of the phrase "Strength of a woman". She survived a heart disease and brain surgery and Victoria says she did this in order to protect them. We agree, Victoria - she is one strong woman.

3. Julie JT

Julies's mother was our oldest entrant, and we can only imagine how much she has been through at her age. Julie says it best: At 75, mama has weathered the harshest storms of life to give us the best; the epitome of motherly sacrifice.

4. Sue Kimuyu

Sue says her amazing mother put not one or two, but eight children through school on her own, none of whom have ever lacked a thing. That's what we call winning.

#SingleMum 1. Livingstone Omari

When Livingstone's mother was widowed, she did whatever she could to raise her son. That meant working tirelessly in shambas belonging to their neighbours to see her son through school and put food on the table. She truly deserves this honour from her son.

2. Sally Gitau

Tracy Nics has had to find a balance between single motherhood and being on the battlefield. In Sally's own words, juggling jobs as a member of the disciplined forces is not easy, and she has to work to secure our nation while being a dad and a mum. We salute you, Tracy.

3. Rael Nyanchama

Rael's mother raised her girls single-handedly after her husband died. However, he had also infected her with HIV without her knowledge and on top of that, she had all her properties taken. She rose above all that and has lived positively for 17 years, working hard to raise her girls into the beautiful women they are today.

#SpecialNeedsMum 1. Lizzy Martins

This one really tugged at our heartstrings. Being a mother in itself, even a mother of one, is not an easy task. Doing it while being deaf and being a mother of 12 takes it to a whole new level. She has done it and succeeded at it. Lizzy says she always proves to the world that she is able in different ways and she is their inspiration. We at Eve agree that she truly deserves it. What a woman!

2. Nicole Gabrielle Angel

Nicole's mum has not only battled bipolar, but she has conquered it and done that as a single mother of three, breadwinner and sole protector of her family. No wonder Nicole calls her her hero.

3. Brenda Ndikamire

Brenda's mum or superwoman as she calls her, cannot walk or talk as well or as easily as other people can, but that has never stopped her from being the best mother she can possibly be.

4. Martha Swagi K

Hellen Swagi has raised a mentally challenged young man for 32 years. It is not an easy task but she has taken it all in stride, and was nominated by her daughter because despite the difficulty, he is doing pretty well! Kudos, Hellen!

#GuardianMum

1. David Agwa Imagine what it takes for a sibling to take over parental duties when both parents die. David Agwa was orphaned at the age of 7 and since then, his sister has taken care of him. He makes the powerful statement that he has never lacked a mother's love and care because of her. She has indeed done a stellar job at it.

2. Claire Nyore

Usually it takes a whole village to raise just one child, but in Claire's case, the tables have turned and her mother is raising over 100 other children. Claire says she is extraordinary – a most fitting description, if we do say so ourselves.

3. Wangui Wangui

When a woman whose work was supposedly done happily takes on the role of being a mother all over again for her children's children, that is worth celebrating. Wangui's grandmother has done it for 25 years, and, Wangui says, she is the best mum.

4. Charlene Mercy Njeri

It is a rare blessing, but yet another grandmother makes an entrance for having been there for her grandchildren when their mother passed away.

Honourable Mentions

1. Siblings Lucyann, Julyann and Isaac Muli, for all nominating their mother separately, using different pictures. A for effort!

2. Tina Hadija, whose mother has raised 10 children on her own, only four of whom are hers.

3. Zeddy Bariti, whose mother raised them for 20 years after their father's death and had everything taken from her for not having a son.

4. Lyn Chege, whose mother fell sick but still protected her children and made them feel loved.

5. At 209, she had the highest number of likes on her mother’s picture. She says her mum is the woman she grew into and the mother she is learning to be