My name is Alex, and I am raising money in memory of my mam, Colette, who sadly passed away on 19th February 2026 after an incredibly brave fight against stage 4 lymphoma cancer, a very aggressive form of blood cancer.

My mam was one of the strongest people I have ever known. Over the years, she battled breast cancer in 2003, lung cancer in 2011, and skin cancer in 2018. Despite everything she faced, she kept going with the strength from God her Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ, courage and love for her family. She never stopped fighting.

Colette was a loving wife to Liam, a devoted mother to Alex, Philomena and Janet, a much-loved mother-in-law to Sarah and Denis, and a proud grandmother to her 5 beloved grandchildren. She meant everything to us, and losing her has left a heartbreak that words cannot fully describe.

To honour her memory, I will be running the Women’s Mini Marathon carrying a 20kg speaker on my back in aid of the Irish Cancer Society. I wanted to do something that would truly push me physically and mentally, while also drawing attention to this fundraiser and helping raise as much money as possible for an amazing cause.

The extra weight is my way of making the challenge even harder, to reflect just a small part of how heavy this journey has been for our family. I hope it helps shine a light on this fundraiser, on my mam’s incredible fight, and on the many families affected by cancer every single day.

Every donation, no matter how small, will mean so much. Thank you for supporting me, remembering my mam Colette, and helping raise vital funds for the Irish Cancer Society.