Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

My mum Martina is the strongest, smartest, feistiest person I know. She has shown me, and all those around her, that her cancer doesn’t define her. She is here today thanks to early detection and treatment of her breast cancer - twice. She wants to see and support ongoing and further research. She believes only ‘data’ can and will inform individualised treatment plans (as it did for her) and inform clinical care and support for future patients. 

My aunt Eimear, pals from school (including Irish Cancer Society’s Carmel Murphy), and many neighbours, sport, college and work colleagues, have faced the chilling challenges of breast cancer diagnosis, directly or in their families. While many are doing well, thank goodness, regrettably not all patients are still with us today. Salutes to my pals Dervla and Jacqui.

In March 2018 Breast Cancer took one of my closest pals Jacqui from her family and us all, and far too soon. I’ll run in her memory, and to raise vital funds for Irish Cancer Society services and Breast Cancer Research. 

For 20 years I’ve been a ‘jogger’. For all of those years I’ve revered the Marathon 1% (of the population who have run one!) Club. This is the 3rd year I’ve entered and trained to take part. This is my 1st year to be injury-free, trained and set to participate. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be?!? My mum thinks I’m mad, but respects the charity cause. My pal Jac would say ‘well if you’re gonna do it just get on and do it’ - and so I will, as best I can. 

Glenn and I are neighbours and friends. We’re running partners for the last year. We’ve had tough runs but not often on the same days, so we help each other along. Glenn has run a marathon before, he’ll be brilliant. I will not break any records, but I will set a PB (personal best). We will give it our all, likely over 4 1/2 hours hopefully, and I will cry. If I do this I’ll have managed to keep a promise I made to Jac. She thought I was nuts. She’s not wrong, you have to be nuts to train for and run 42.2kms. But she’ll smile at me, give me thumbs-up and send me a ‘sun-bow’ to say ‘good on ya’. And - thanks in advance to Glenn! 

In these extraordinary times, with money so tight for all and with anxiety and health concerns to the fore of everyone’s minds, I’m requesting you please give if and at a level as you can - to Irish Cancer Society, for Breast Cancer Research.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.