End of swine , start of NYC MARATHON

Lifestyle

July 11, 2014

After the whole ordeal of the swine flu I struggled to get weight back on. It dropped my lung function back to 79% which was still 300% + better than pre transplant but in my brain was a failure as it had dropped from high 80’s before I caught that damn fucking flu. Honestly though I was so happy to be alive that i thought I need to do something big for CF so i put a status on Facebook. If i got more than 50 likes i would do the New York City marathon. Needless to say it got 50 in a hour. So I needed to get a few volunteers so Paul Mc Hugh was the first man to contact me. I got in contact with Martin Cahill of CFAI god rest him. He died since. He was a gentleman to speak with and supported us tremendously.

AOur idea was to give all the money raised to CF west but we needed to start by raising €3999 to get us out there first and entered in the NYC marathon. I have to mention we had a meeting in mulligans and we got a lot of support from Eddie Mcloughlin and Noel (screech) Staide. There was many ideas thrown on the table but only one stood out. A mock 18th party. We put our heart and soul into organising it and we got the word out there. On that night alone we raised up on €6000 from goodwill and genuine good fun. Businesses all over Claremorris , Ballinrobe sponsored spot prizes as well as a auction. A great night was had. Training was done and there was many an early morning spent spinning in the gym. I was getting excited and the money was pouring in. Then about 2 months before the event I was standing in Kennedys nightclub in Galway with Mark Curley and I will try to be nice but let’s just say a girl under a bit of influence and didn’t look like she seen a bike in her life fell on top of my left knee. I was leaning against a window sill. It completely buckled my knee. Pain was horrendous and I will never forget going to Marias house and having to crawl to the door.

I finally got crutches but the next couple of days my nightmare got worse. All ligaments were torn in my knee. I was on crutches for up to 2 weeks before we flew out to NYC. But a plan was made. Martina was going to start the marathon with Paul and i would do the last couple of miles. When we arrived in NYC we stayed in a fabulous hotel beside grand central station. We met up with Mark Finlay , John Murphy and Martinas boss John Acton. The day of the marathon came we had support in the shape of CF ambassador Caroline Heffernan and physio Sara English. Paul and Martina were gone at 6 that morning. Now Martina had no training and for good measure a few glasseeens of wine the night before. I met them on the 19th mile and walked through manhatten. It was a amazing feeling and one I will never forget. Only for the support we received from family and friends none of this is possible. As we walked into central park we had Mark Finlay there with cans of coke. We would be lost without him :/ If you ever decide to do one of these guys organise your lift home we must have walked another 6 miles to find transport to hotel and my knee clicked again.

After it was all done I rang the first person I could think of Tony O Toole. I have never heard of a happier man. So that night was party time and we hit off with the three lads with Finlay landing us in a gay bar. We played pool and had a few drinks along with a late night trip to the chipper. This is a trip I will never forget. On this occasion alone we raised over €12000. When your mind has a goal that needs to be achieved you need to work hard. It still kills me that I never did the whole of that marathon but I will go back some day and complete all the boroughs of New York City