Five young Irish ladies will don their running shoes in three different time zones across the globe on Saturday, 10th October for the virtual VHI Women’s Mini Marathon. They are undertaking the challenge to demonstrate solidarity in support of a cause very close to the heart of one of the friends, Sarah May, which is to raise organ donor awareness and funds for the Irish Kidney Association.

I have taken part in approx. 26 Dublin ladies mini marathons, completing my first one in 1985 in 54 minutes.   35 years later I still enjoy taking part in the event but unfortunately my finish time is no longer under the hour.   I have not achieved any “personal best” in the last 20 years but at this stage, for me, it’s all about participation. 

On 1st June 2009 my sister, Dr Eithne Walls, and her two friends, Dr Aisling Butler and Dr Jane Deasy, were passengers on the Air France flight that tragically disappeared over the Atlantic. Eithne had been in Riverdance and in April 2010 they contacted my family to say they took part in the mini marathon each year for different charities and wanted to run 2010 in memory of Eithne.

I was born in 1987 with Transposition of the Greater Arteries (TGA) I also had 3 holes of various sizes in my heart. Although my mum insisted that I had something wrong she was repeatedly told I was fine and she was a panicky mother. At 5 months old I went into heart failure. I was then diagnosed. 

My name is Caroline , I am from Cloonfad a small rural village in Roscommon, where the three counties (Galway, Mayo and Roscommon) meet. I am working as a Medical scientist in Sligo University Hospital and am also currently working towards completing my Masters in Biomedical Science later this year. This year will be my eighth time participating in the Vhi Womens Mini Marathon.  

I am a busy mum of four and a full-time carer. Our youngest two are both autistic. As well as being a mum, I am a founder of Galway Autism Partnership and worked in a voluntary capacity in the charity until 2018. I have arthritis and asthma, but running has actually helped my health to a degree.

My name is Laura Murphy and I have two children with an extremely rare genetic condition. It took many years and a lot of research here and abroad before the children’s condition was discovered.  

This will be my very first Mini Marathon as I have always been more of a Usain Bolt than a Mo Farah! I wanted to get involved this year as I want to :

1-raise funds for Irish Cancer Society.

2 Raise awareness for Melanoma and

3 Show young girls & ladies that sport can prepare you to be a strong and fearless women.

My name is Orla Lawlor and I am honoured to be chosen as the Longford Ambassador for the 2020 VHI Women's Mini Marathon. I am delighted to share my story of how I first entered the Mini Marathon, and also why I chose MS Ireland as my charity. 

Hi my name is Stephanie Murphy!! My story started back when I was 13 and
I had a bad fall which resulted in me badly breaking my right hip!!

Hi my name is Criostal Hennessy I am a Youth Worker working for an organisation called Ossory Youth. Ossory Youth is a voluntary, not for profit organisation working with and for young people in the Diocese of Ossory, covering Kilkenny and parts of Laois and Offaly.

Jean Murtagh is no stranger to the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon. In the early years, Jean ran 10 of the events as well as being a seasoned marathon runner.