As you may know, I work for Breakthrough Breast Cancer, one of the charities who benefits from the event, and know only too well how indiscriminate this illness really is. With 1 in 9 women expected to experience some form of breast cancer in their life, it shows how important this cause really is and why I have decided to take on the biggest challenge of my life while raising money for vital breast cancer research.

Not only am I doing the full 26.2 miles (yes it’s a marathon!!!!) but I’ll be doing it through the night and all I’ll be wearing on top is a decorated bra. However, if this was not bad enough, to top it off I have an injured foot. Nonetheless, I have decided I am still going to do the walk no matter what any doctor says.

Lucky for me, I won’t be alone and I’ll be doing it with Team Paddy Wagon. The team comprises of two fully fledged milk bottled legged Irish girls and two half Irish semi skimmed legged girls.

So, who are these misfortune girls who will have to put up with my moaning on the night? Well, there is my flatmate and old chum Mary O’ Shaughnessy whose from Cork, my boss and friend Fiona Hazell whose mum is from Co. Roscommon and my colleague and friend, Sarah Villaraus (nee Roche)  whose Dad is from Co. Donegal.

So far Team Paddy Wagon has raised over £1000. We have done this by hosting a quiz, where we raised a fantastic £710 and on Ireland’s favourite day – St Patrick’s Day, we cooked Irish food at work for nearly 100 people with just one hour sleep and raised over £300. So what next you may ask? Well now it’s the hard part as we actually have to do the walk.

So what can you do, to help me complete this challenge? Well I need your support - be it financial and/or emotional. All your good wishes will be an enormous boost on the night especially when I hit the dreaded ‘wall’.

Please support me, anything you have: euro, pennies, pounds, dollar, yen, whatever you can give, no matter how big or small will be greatly appreciated.  I know in these credit crunch times, it’s a big ask, but please have a look under your bed, down your couch or even under your fridge and any loose change that you find or any money that you are willing to donate, that you give it to this worthwhile cause. In return, I promise to complete the walk, even if I get frost bite on the night or my foot falls off.

Thanks for your support. I really appreciate it and I know it will massively spur me on, on the night.

Thanks a million.

Éadaoin