This year’s walk is the third in a trilogy of fundraising walks organised by former Ireland and Ulster Rugby Captain Rory Best in aid of Cancer Fund for Children’s ambition to build a therapeutic short break centre called Daisy Lodge on the shores of Lough Corrib in Cong, Co.Mayo.

Why did you want to take part? Is the cause one that is particularly close to your heart?

I was privileged, as part of the Arachas team, to visit Daisy Lodge in Co. Down and was completely blown away by the incredible work that Cancer Fund for Children is doing to help children and their families at a really difficult point in their lives. They are now building a second facility in Cong, Co. Mayo to help more families. As the mother of two young girls, the idea that I can play even a small part in helping to make this happen is really special to me.

What was the training schedule like and how did you combine the demands of training with a busy job?

I’m not going to lie, it has been quite tricky! I had to squeeze in my training around a full-time job at Arachas and my family life. I didn’t have five or six hours to set aside for walking so I concentrated on trying to complete 5k or 10k every few days myself, as well as taking part in some group walks in Dublin and Wicklow. I was also doing pilates to ensure that I could stay as injury-free as possible once I hit the road for the challenge.

What lessons from your practice as a solicitor have helped you in training and /or participation?

I suppose showing up is the first thing you have to do when it comes to something like this. As we all know, advising clients and building to that trusted advisor position is one that takes time; it is certainly a marathon and not a sprint. I would tend to be a planner and very goal-oriented, so I was meticulous in setting the time aside to train alongside the competing demands, I had to show up on the rainy days, and I had to keep going until it all started to come together in the end.

Have you ran a marathon before?

Never! I only got back into exercise in a serious way over the past 12 months. As a trainee and a junior solicitor, exercise was a huge part of my life but then life became busy with young children and becoming a partner in Eversheds Sutherland, before joining Arachas last year. I did my first at Easter, and was actively involved with Team Arachas in the Calcutta Run - I had never taken part in the run before and this year did it alongside Sonia O’Sullivan.

What is the biggest lesson you have learned from your participation?

The biggest thing I learned is that if I show up and put one step in front of the other, it can amount to something substantial. To be able to say that I, as a busy working mother of two, was able to help Cancer Fund for Children to build a lasting legacy in Cong that will benefit children and their families for decades to come is something of a legacy of my own that I can be quietly proud of.

What has been your biggest challenge?

The challenge itself, I felt I was fit going into it but I had no idea the impact of walking 42-45kms per day, over eight hours day on day, for nine days in a row, would have on my body. All 22 of us had blisters, shin splints, stress fractures. I walked with Cillian O’Connor, the Mayo All-Ireland winner, who knows a lot more about stress fractures than I do, and he held me up on the dance floor in Cong at the end so I could dance on my good ankle. 

How have your colleagues supported you in taking on the challenge?

There has been such goodwill from everyone at Arachas. Everyone has dug deep to raise funds. I want to particularly mention my colleague Dave Jermyn, Dave is one of the founders of Arachas, he is 62 this year and he walked every day alongside me. He almost always carried a collection bucket. He ran up and down to cars and well-wishes, he made it look easy, even on days seven, eight and nine. Dave and all our colleagues who completed the challenge alongside me were the reason I was able to keep going, with the stories and the camaraderie powering us through the distance - I’ll never forget it.

What would you like people to know about the charity or the cause?

Every day, up to 10 children and young people aged 0-24 are diagnosed with cancer across the island of Ireland. This is such a difficult time for these youngsters and their families and Cancer Fund for Children helps them through it with therapeutic and emotional support, which is delivered at home, in hospital and at Daisy Lodge. Their approach is compassionate and is based on a deep understanding of the needs of children and families navigating a cancer diagnosis.

You can still add to our fundraising efforts here.