Cathy’s Fundraising Fight. Participating in a 3 mth BOXING training camp in preparation for my first ever fight on the 15th July.

I AM TAKING PART IN THIS CHALLENGE TO TRY AND FUNDRAISE FOR THE CHILDREN'S ARK UNIT, UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL LIMERICK AND CHEST, HEART AND STROKE.

Hi everyone. I started training back in the beginning of May in preparation for a White Collar Amateur Fight Night on the 15th July. Training is getting progressively tougher as the weeks go on but so far I am loving the intense physical challenge and opportunity to learn a new skill. Also training with a committed, fun group with brilliant trainers and coaches helps but the main thing keeping me motivated is the potential to try and fundraise for 2 charities close to my own and my families hearts. So I would really appreciate people' support for these great causes.

As parents we personally experienced the fantastic talent, skills,empathy, kindness, dedication, professionalism and constant hard work from the staff in The Children's Ark Unit. When Iarla was just 5 days old, he took suddenly critically ill at home despite being brought home from the hospital a perfectly healthy baby boy. If it was not for the work of the paramedics in the ambulance and the doctors and nurses who came out to meet the ambulance when we arrived I shudder to think what the outcome may have been. Afterwards, we spent a week staying in the The Children's Ark Unit while he was nursed back to health and the time staff spent with us, the expertise demonstrated and constant kindness shown to Iarla but also to us as exhausted, worried, emotionally wrecked, scared first time parents. In my opinion they did more for me and Iarla during our time there than was even expected of them and I will be forever in their debt. Following a year of follow up check ups and reviews in The Children's Ark Unit we were discharged fully from their care and anyone who has been lucky enough to have met Iarla would never guess he had a bit of a shaky start in life.

As any parent knows their children are the most precious thing they will ever have in their life's and I want to try give something back to show my gratitude for the blessing of having such a healthy, happy, loving, funny, energetic boy in our life.

Secondly, I hope to fundraise for the Chest, Heart and Stroke Organisation. Respiratory, cardiovascular disease and stroke have impacted my families a lot and too many times to mention over the years. Most recently at the end of 2016 we lost my father in law and granda due to these conditions and unfortunately so many other people and families in Ireland and the UK are affected by this group of diseases. By supporting this charity you will help support these individuals to have a better quality of life but also assist their families in caring for them.

All support is greatly appreciated.

Xxx, Cathy AKA The Tyrone Tiger