Charity of Choice for Women's Mini Marathon

After signing up for the Flora Women's Mini Marathon this coming June I put some thought into fundraising for a charity at the same time. I don't see the point of running the mini marathon just for the sake of it. Charities are crying out for donations at the moment so why not help out in some way?

My charities of choice always involve cancer. Eight years ago three people who were very important to me died of cancer within a year of each other. Two of them, my grandaunt and grandfather, had been ill for some time before they died so we all had time to get our head around what was coming. Not that that makes it any easier. But we had the opportunity to make the most of the time we had left. I remember my grandaunt telling me "Ask me everything you want to know now." And I did, well almost everything. But I asked the important stuff about about older generations of Dad's family.

The time spent with my grandfather was much the same. He imparted his wisdom of DIY on me, knowing full well it would be lost on my older brother. He also gave me a large selection of his old tools from his days as an electrician, all of which I was thrilled to get!

My grandaunt and grandfather died in May and November 2003 respectively. In June 2004, my aunt, godmother and my 'Dublin Mum', as I affectionately called her, died from ovarian cancer. She had been sick since the start of that year but no matter how many tests she went for, a diagnosis was never made. One Tuesday night at the end of May 2004 my mother and grandmother walked into the sitting room where my sister and I were rewatching the last episode of Friends which had aired the night before. I knew when I saw my grandmother that something was wrong.

The call had come earlier that day that my aunt had ovarian cancer and she was being moved to another hospital in Dublin. She died two weeks later, never having received treatment because her diagnosis came too late to do anything. The whole family was utterly devastated, and I think some of us still are. My aunt was 43, she had two beautiful girls who weren't even teenagers yet. Everyone adored her, she had a wicked sense of humour and great style. She was elegant and beautiful. She was caring and generous. And in an instant she was gone.

As a result of all of this, the charity I have decided to fund raise for is Cork ARC Cancer Support House, a voluntary organisation that provides emotional support and practical help for people with cancer and their families. All of the services offered by Cork ARC are free. All of their running costs are covered by donations. At some point we will all encounter cancer, and I would like to think that when that time comes all of us will have a place to go where we can get information in a relaxed atmosphere, where we can have space to reflect on what is happening and where we can cry for as long as we need to, safe in the knowledge that someone is there with a shoulder. In 2010, Cork ARC Cancer Support House had over 4,500 visitors.

When I run the mini marathon on Monday, 6th June, I will do it in memory of Joan Crowley, Tim O'Sullivan and Darra Corcoran. If you would like to support my effort, please click the following link to make a donation: http://www.mycharity.ie/event/kerri_crowleys_event/.

Thanks in advance,
Kerri

Running, running... as slow as I am

Six weeks ago I took up running with a beginners group in the Phoenix Park. (Back in my early teens I joined a running group at home but it was all about speed and winning races and being better than the best. I hated it!) We met twice a week and would run until our little legs would carry us no more. Actually, that isn't quite true. We had a very professional, enthusiastic and supportive trainer who broke us in gently.

Raedi Higgins is the mastermind behind Run Like a Girl. The aim at the start of the course was to build up our endurance so that we could run for 30 minutes, non-stop, at the end of the six weeks. Last night was the last session and I am delighted, proud and more surprised than anyone else to say I ran for 35 minutes non-stop. This is partly because myself and another member of the group were a bit behind the others and decided to take a different route (which is code for, we got a little lost!).

In six weeks I have noticed such a difference in my mood, my sleep pattern and my energy levels to list but a few. I've also noticed some weight loss and toning which is a bonus (not the reason I joined the group). Last weekend I didn't make it out for a run and felt like the weekend wasn't complete without it.

The best thing about joining the group, aside from the laugh we would have each session, was discovering that I enjoy running. I may move at a snail's pace but at least I am out there doing it. I have gone as far as to sign up for the Women's Mini Marathon in June. I don't care if the race takes me two hours or two days, this year I am actually going to do it and not just talk about "thinking about doing it". I have yet to decide on a charity that I will fundraise for.

In the meantime I am going to continue running and dream of one day joining the intermediate group! So for all you budding runners, take a look at http://www.runlikeagirl.ie/ and get out there and start running. You'll love it!

Welcome to my blog. Won't you come on in?

I've decided it is time to join the masses and start a blog. Mostly I expect it to be filled with the mundane ramblings that are my every thought. But on occassion I aspire to achieve some 'oohs' and 'aahs' from you, the reader. It is my goal to dazzle you with my wit and seemingly trivial, but always-handy-in-a-tablequiz factoids!

I should start by explaining the title of my blog. Back in secondary school when I joined the school choir (it got me out of PE and study... and meant a few day trips away from school too!) I wanted to manage a band and call them 'The Warbling Crows'. Alas, singing is not a talent I am blessed with, and I wouldn't inflict my vocals on friend or foe, so I have since laid that dream to rest and have accepted I will never be Paul McGuinness. Instead I am using it as the title of my blog.

So, yes - I am the 'Warbling Crow' (insert joke/smart comment here dear reader).