Brenda's Mercy Marathon Challenge

Saturday, 24 October 2015

Number 12 of 12 marathons in 8 months .................................

The last of 12 in 8 months

I cannot believe that I am already at marathon number 12, thank you to everyone that has supported me in any way, without you I would not be here.....happy.....sad........lonely.......excited................

For this marathon I will have the company of Pat and two very dear friends.I am so proud of Pat who will be running his first marathon, 12 months ago Pat was being fed by a feeding tube having had chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery to remove his oesophagus now he is fit and ready to run 26.2 miles. #soproud... #letsfightcancer

Noel has been there for us since Pat was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer. The most supportive friend that anyone can ask for. First marathon for Noel in Dublin and he is guaranteed to do a super time.

Mark has travelled from the UK to join us in Dublin, he is a pro at marathon running and we have previously ran the Dublin and Barcelona marathons together. Started the marathons together and I managed to beat him on both occassions !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (sorry Mark) I promise to wait for you in Dublin..............................

All of the 11 marathons that I have ran over the last 8 months were for Pat, marathon number 12 is for a very dear friend who was also treated in the Mercy hospital, he is now facing his own very difficult challenge, 26.2 miles in Dublin will be ran for you Joe.

From the very beginning in March this challenge was not about me, I do not in any way regard myself as a hero, the hero's are the cancer patients who fight this dreadful disease every day.

The money €23104.80 to date

that we raise will be used to part-fund a research programme into the causes of Oesophageal cancer. In particular the project will produce a mapping of bacteria in the oesophagus in patients that are at various different stages of Oesophagitis. The project will be based in UCC. In our view research is the only way to increase the survival rates for those that are unfortunate enough to suffer from cancer at any stage in their lives.

Thank you to everyone that has donated so far and for sharing and liking my facebook page and posts.

For anyone that would like to donate please use http://fundraise.mercyfundraising.ie/marathonbrenda

Please share my facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/mercymarathons

Marthon number 12 of 8 months ..................... the countdown begins ..................................................

The last of 12 in 8 months

From the very beginning in March this challenge was not about me, I do not in any way regard myself as a hero, the hero's are the cancer patients who fight this dreadful disease every day.

The money €23104.80 to date

Thank you to everyone that has donated so far and for sharing and liking my facebook page and posts.

For anyone that would like to donate please use http://fundraise.mercyfundraising.ie/marathonbrenda

Please share my facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/mercymarathons

Marthon number 12 of 8 months ..................... the countdown begins ..................................................

Saturday, 3 October 2015

Hero of the Year Award

HERO OF THE YEAR AWARD.

I had the honour of attending the Mercy Stars Awards last night and I was absolutely thrilled to receive the award for Hero of the Year. To be among such wonderful people was fantastic.
It is only 23 days to the Dublin marathon and my last marathon of 12 in 8 months. I was asked last night how did I feel about marathon number 12 and the answer is sad - it brings to an end a truly amazing journey. I almost wish that Dublin wasn't number 12 so that I could continue my association with the Mercy Foundation, but you never know what the future holds .......................
I had my first meeting with Deirdre in the Foundation in January and now coming towards the end of my Mercy Marathon Challenge the support and friendship that I have received from everyone in the Foundation has been amazing.

€20850.80 is the total to date and I am hopeful and confident that we will add a lot more ........................

In Dublin I will be joined by Pat, Noel and Mark so it will be 26.2 miles of fun. Pat and Mark have both finished their longest run so are beginning to taper, Noel plans on taking to the road this week. For Pat and Noel it is their first marathon so there will be a lot of nerves in Dublin on October 26th. Mark is travelling from the UK to support us and he is a pro at marathon running. My only disadvantage on the day will be that I am the smallest and for every step they take I will be taking 2 or maybe 3 !!!!!!!!!!!

23 days left and we will be celebrating.

Watch this space for details on our final night of celebrations ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Thank you to everyone that has donated so far and for sharing and liking my facebook page and posts.

For anyone that would like to donate please use http://fundraise.mercyfundraising.ie/marathonbrenda

Please share my facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/mercymarathons

Monday, 21 September 2015

Counting down the days ..........

35 days to marathon number 12 in Dublin, training is going really well, with a mixture of running and gym sessions with Ronan in Victory fitness. Pat is all set to run Dublin with me having ran 18 miles with Noel last weekend, Mark will be travelling from the UK to join us and is a little bit ahead having done a 22 mile run.
This week I will be running the Cork Mini Marathon and if anyone would like to join Team Mercy there is still plenty of time to register.

Thank you to everyone that has made a donation in any way. Lots of exciting things planned before this challenge finishes .....

For anyone that would like to donate please use http://fundraise.mercyfundraising.ie/marathonbrenda

Please share my facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/mercymarathons

Monday, 7 September 2015

One year on ......................

Congratulations to Mr Tom Murphy who true to his word ran in Dingle on Saturday. It was fantastic to have such support at the start and finish line. Congratulations to Anna, Tina and Noel who also ran in Dingle. Marathon number 12 is Dublin on October 26th, this will be the longest rest for me between marathons since I started this challenge in March and I think at this stage I probably need it. So for the next few weeks I will alter my training routine.

THE MEDAL COLLECTION...........

One year ago tomorrow Pat had surgery, it is sure to be a day of mixed emotions, happy that Pat has got this far and is doing so well and sadness that cancer came into our lives. I will be forever grateful to the wonderful staff of the Mercy and I will always remember Mr Tom Murphy on the morning of surgery when he promised me that he would take care of Pat and that is exactly what he did.

This challenge is all about raising much needed funds for Cancer Research in the Mercy Hospital, back in February when I did my first interview I was asked what my target was and my reply was I didn't have one and with only one marathon to go the amount raised to date is a phenomenal
19,250.80 euro

Thank you to everyone that has donated so far and has helped in anyway.
I now have a finishing target that I would hope to reach and I am determined to push it in every possible way to the final hurdle.

For anyone that would like to donate please use http://fundraise.mercyfundraising.ie/marathonbrenda

Please share my facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/mercymarathons

Sunday, 30 August 2015

Almost there .................

I cannot believe that I am almost at the end of this challenge. Saturday will be marathon number 11 in Dingle and I am looking forward to meeting some of the competitors from the quadrathon in Donegal. Unfortunately Pat, Gavin and Colin will not be there to support me as the soccer season begins for Gavin and Colin, however Noel and some of the girls from Killarney are taking part in the half marathon so I will have company for the first few miles ...................... I also hope to be joined by another friend but not to put any pressure on him all will be revealed in next weeks blog.

I am relatively injury free with just a slight niggle on my left knee so for the last few training session I have switched from running to cycling, at this stage I definitely do not want to pick up an injury.

The plan between Dingle and Dublin is to get back in the pool (of which I used to do a lot of), keep up training with Ronan in Victory Fitness (of which he guarantees that it is going to get tougher), keep running, remain injury free and to enjoy marathon number 12 in Dublin.

12 months ago next week Pat was preparing for surgery in the Mercy, we will be forever grateful to everyone involved in Pat's care in the Mercy hospital.

The support that I have received has been overwhelming to say the least, this has certainly been a journey and one that I have thoroughly enjoyed raising vital funds for cancer research

Total raised so far is €18195.80

For anyone that would like to donate please use http://fundraise.mercyfundraising.ie/marathonbrenda

Please share my facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/mercymarathons

Tuesday, 18 August 2015

I survived 4 marathons in 4 days ....................................

I can only describe the quadrathon as one of the best events that I have ever taken part in. I arrived at the start line on day 1 and soon discovered that I was one of the few participants who had never done such an event before.............The 4 days consisted of running around the Inishowen 100. I met the most amazing people. Ken who had taken part in a race in Belfast only 3 weeks before (this consisted of running around a track for 24 hours)!!!!, Derek from West Limerick who just runs and runs ................., Karen from the UK who is currently on her 92nd marathon and Barry from Sligo who without his company on Day 4 it would have been an uphill struggle to the end, there were so many other amazing participants that I met over the four days that it would be impossible to name everyone.

I had given myself a target of 20 hours for the 105.80 miles and was delighted to finish at a time of 19 hours and 20 minutes. Pat, Gavin and Colin were there every few miles, to motivate, feed me and soothe any aching muscles and by the end of day 1 they were more well known that I was !!!
Well done to Ger who took part in the marathon on Day 3.

From the minute we arrived in Donegal we were welcomed by Margaret, John Francis, JJ and Nuala and their hospitality was much appreciated. Thank you to everyone that sent messages of support before, after and during each race, all of these helped to keep me motivated over the four days. I never thought that I would ever be able to complete such a challenging event and now that I have you never know what lies ahead .......................

2 marathons of the 12 left, this week will be rest and then it will be back to training for Dingle on Sept 5th with an unbelievable total raised to date of 18,085.80 euro.

I cannot believe the support that I am receiving throughout this challenge. Una is there whenever I need her to make sure that I remain injury free, a phone call to Annie on Monday morning and it was not a problem for her to fit me in to get my feet back to normal.

I had thought that I would finish in Donegal and Pat, Gavin and Colin would be waiting for me and this is who was there to welcome me at the finish line......................

THANK YOU SO MUCH

Don't forget To donate please use http://fundraise.mercyfundraising.ie/marathonbrenda

Don't forget to share my facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/mercymarathons