Hi all,

As you all know I am very keen runner and have been running everything from parkruns to half marathons for many years now. Never in my dreams did I think I would run a marathon. Yet, like everyone, I popped my name into the Virgin Money London Marathon ballot never expecting to be selected. But I did to much screaming of "OMG OMG".

Since Jan 1st I have been running to "the plan" and despite constant niggles and my knee giving my constant jip I am up to 20 miles with one month to go. You might say "gah, she is always active, this isn't really a challenge for her". Oh boy it is. While it has actually been easier than I thought to fit the runs into my life it has been a bigger undertaking that I thought. I didn't expect the pain from dodgy biomechanics, the constant worry of injury, the deep mental lows when things aren't going according to plan and really putting life on hold and saying "once the marathon is over I can..."

Now with one month to go things are looking real. I wish to raise some dosh for the Temple Street Children's Hospital Foundation serving very sick children from all across Ireland. My nephew Brian was a patient there when he was only 3 weeks old when we discovered he had hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain). I will never forget that feeling when I got the phone call. I would have done anything to be in his place. He needed a shunt placed to relieve the pressure and fluid around his brain. My brother Kevin and sister-in-law Mary Kate said it was very scary but the staff were second to none.

Mary Kate told me "They staff not only took excellent care of Brian but they also reassured us terrified first time parents that everything would be ok."

Today at 2 years olf Brian is more than ok. He represents "live every day" in his own boisterous and fun-loving way. 

We are all so greateful to the Hospital for the on-going care he gets. All funds raised from this page will go directly to this great cause.

I hope you can help me by donating whatever you can, every € and £ counts. Simply click the Donate button above. All donations are processed securely.

We all thank you for your support. 

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