#Tipperary - Amanda for the Irish Cancer Society

Hey there!!  

 My name is Amanda & I'm from the greatest county in the world, Tipperary!  

 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. 

 I have been involved with sport (athletics especially) all my life. As a teen I started my love affair with coaching & trying to set an example for young girls in sport. Last year my life got turned upside down when I got a melanoma diagnosis. Within a few weeks I went from fit & healthy to laid up in bed!! After 4 surgeries, two tumours removed from my leg and a full lymph node dissection from my groin, I was feeling a little worse for wear. A cancer diagnosis can be frightening, can be daunting and can feel like a total curveball thrown into your life. It can be easy to let it win, let it dictate your path and take over your life. Luckily, I've always had the heart of a warrior & a little bit of a stubborn streak as well so slowly but surely I battled my way back to the track. I set myself small challenges to start but within a couple of months I was back in college for my biggest challenge of a career change. 

I now have my own fitness business, I love to volunteer at parkrun, I coach for Munster athletics & of course I love coaching at my own club in Borrisokane. With 4 years of check-ups left to face I know that my fitfam are behind me all the way. Strong women empower strong women.  

Hon Tipp