Kate Ritchie breaks down in tears as heartbroken mum reveals how her husband died from rare cancer - leaving her to raise their two children alone: 'How am I going to survive this?'

• Young mum Shannon Lewis' story brought Kate to tears 
• You can support Shannon and her children by donating via GoFundMe 
• READ MORE: Home and Away star Kate Ritchie 'splits' with her boyfriend Chevy Black - nine months after going Instagram official 

Kate Ritchie broke down in tears live on air on Thursday morning after a heartbroken young mum opened up about her husband's death.

Speaking on Nova FM's Fitzy & Wippa, Shannon Lewis detailed her struggles since her late husband Jack was diagnosed with a rare form of spine and brain cancer.

The mum-of-two lost Jack, the father of her children, earlier this year, and shared her desperately sad story on the breakfast show's 'We've Got Your Back' segment.

As Shannon revealed how she had to explain to her young children that their father would not be coming home again, Kate broke down and wiped away tears.

'Can I ask... how are you doing, love?' she asked, sobbing.

A visibly emotional Shannon replied: 'Some days to even just wake up... how am I going to get through today?

'How am I going to survive this? But also be a parent, and be a good one at that? And not fail them... it's really hard.'

After finishing her heartbreaking story, co-host Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald announced they would be helping Shannon by donating $10,000 to her family.

They will also be 'getting Christmas sorted' by purchasing bikes, toys and video game consoles for Shannon's children.

It comes after Ritchie recently broke down on air as she described the toll that motherhood can have.

The former Home and Away star swatted away tears last month as a guest on the breakfast program described the mental health struggles of mums.

The 44-year-old wept as the discussion centred around the way mothers can't sleep at night because they're so worried about their children.

'Sorry, sorry,' Kate said as she cried. 

Kate said she related to the way mothers were stuck 'in their own heads' when they tried to sleep at night.

She also had experienced, 'the inner part of the dialogue that doesn't ever end' when it came to child rearing.

The actress is a loving mum to daughter Mae, eight, and recently told The Sunday Telegraph her little girl gives her 'purpose' and 'strength'.

'Mae gives me incredible purpose and strength and she is one of the few people who allow me to be truly me. Nothing more or less,' she said. 

'I am merely her mummy and she loves me for that. In fact, if I am to be really honest, as she gets older she is also teaching me I am deserving of love.'