The older I get the more I seem to think about health, good and bad, in myself and others. As a kid and well into my 30's, things like cancer, heart disease, obesity, and general ill-health were just distant concerns exclusively for other people to worry about. Now closer to 50 than 40 I see it everywhere, friends and family touched particularly by cancer and the torture it inflicts on the sufferer and the helpless frustration of those who have to try and provide support and comfort.

Good health is a gift. I get to support it in two ways. By making my little contribution to cancer charities each year and by coaching kids in our local boxing club.

I've always been happy to support others and watch them put themselves out to support good causes, but this season I've decided it might be time to put a little more effort in myself.

I'm aiming to raise some funds to be divided equally between three good causes and I've picked one national, one regional and one local and for different but related reasons:

The Irish Cancer Society: As well as providing some great support services for cancer patients they provide plenty of funding for research in Ireland and I like to think that I'm supporting this element of tackling cancer. There are so many positive pronouncements and forecasts on cancer research, I think it's worth supporting this momentum.

Cancer Care West: During some time spent watching a family member in treatment I wondered what it would have been like if our family had not all been around Galway to ask questions of doctors, talk about everything around the various illnesses and generally provide support. As a family we were so lucky that we were all available and that we had the confidence to get answers and find out what was going on. I think one of the biggest benefits CCW provides is that support: when maybe family members are not around or in a position to help out. I can imagine that suffering from cancer switches on a particular type of loneliness that can only be assuaged by talking, getting answers and feeling that others are going through the same thing. I've heard a lot of good things about Cancer Care West's range of services but I'm supporting them because if you do ever find yourself alone and dealing with cancer there's a good place to go.

Tobair Pheadair Boxing Club: For a variety of reasons, rightly and wrongly, boxing is a tough sell but from a boxer's and coach's viewpoint, there is nothing like it for developing confidence. Sure the discipline and fitness are also huge benefits but everyone I've ever seen that has stepped into the ring has come out a changed person and it's lovely to see parents take a kid home, glowing with pride.

As a club we compete with much stronger and more well funded local activities, but not every kid is suited to a team sport and if they already lack confidence, have difficulty focusing, or need a little discipline, team activities are often not the most helpful of environments, particularly where a couple of coaches are already stretched trying to manage a large group.

Our club caters for between 30-50 kids on three weekdays and on most weekends, with eight qualified coaches covering a season that runs from September to the end of July. Older kids mentor younger kids, and everyone does the same training with fitness tests held regularly. There is nothing like seeing the complete transformation in a child's confidence levels both physical and social, it makes the utter exhaustion at the end of July worthwhile!

TPBC is completely self-funded apart from the very occasional capital grant and it is a full-time job thinking of ways to stay on top of the bills.

My intention is to complete the Dublin Marathon in October 2017 followed by the Galway Bay swim in July 2018. Not having run more than 10 miles since I was 18, 26 miles is challenge enough but never having swam more than a few hundred metres, and not being a particularly strong swimmer, the 10-13 kilometre swim in July 2018 is going to be tough. Training in the wind and waves of South Galway Bay in deep winter is going to be a struggle too for someone whose best winter friend is an electric blanket.

Again, any and all funds raised will be divided equally and very gratefully received!

Rory