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Thousands of women strive to go that extra mile and make a difference to the lives of other people. Fabulous met one inspirational woman who doesn’t let anything get in the way in her mission to care for others.

With three children, a baby on the way and a community project to manage, taking a day off isn’t an option for Sabrina Ben Salmi. But while the future is bright and busy for the bubbly 28 year old, it was once a very different story.

As a child, Sabrina developed croup, a serious – and sometimes life-threatening – infection of the voice box and airway to the lungs. As a result, she was in and out of hospital, and the effects of her illness have lasted into adulthood. “I have a low immune system – so I often get struck down by colds and tonsillitis,” she says.

It was this childhood struggle, and the battles Sabrina went on to face in adulthood, that inspired her to do something to help others. So in March 2006 she set up The Mobile Single Mothers Project (TMSMP). "I was a single parent," Sabrina says. "And it was tough. I had all this ambition but no one to help me achieve it. TMSMP was set up with little funding but a lot of effort and building friendships in the right places. I initially assisted friends and family and the demand came via word of mouth."

She now helps single parents who are struggling to fulfil their potential. The project offers a range of services, from IT training to legal advice, to help lay the foundations for a better future for families in need. But while she adores her work, Sabrina, who lives in Essex, has a busy home to look after as well – and is the first to admit that things can get a little hectic. With a husband, three children and a fourth due in March, Sabrina is constantly on the go.

"There’s no question of taking time off, even when I’m ill," she says. But you won’t catch her complaining. "The future’s bright. The project has changed my life."