Irish Examiner Cork City Marathon: Uncovering stories behind the runners

Every marathon runner has a back story — a personal goal, a special intention, a charity or cause that’s close to their heart. At this year’s Irish Examiner Cork City Marathon there was no shortage of driven individuals eager to share their reasons for running.

Tue, 02 Jun, 2015 - 01:00

Kelly O'Brien

“We’re here to show people there can be life after cancer”, said Co Tipperary man Liam Ryan, part of a relay group called The C-Team. All members — Liam Ryan and Ned O’Brien from Tipperary with John Quigley, Noel O’Connor, and Sean Twomey from Cork — are cancer survivors.

“I had a tumour in the middle of my head and I was diagnosed in Limerick and the consultant there told me it was the second-worst case he’d ever seen,” said Liam, who had head and neck cancer.

However, Liam, who was given a 5% survival rate, was determined to beat his illness — and after having his tumour removed at a centre in Liverpool, that’s exactly what he did. “This is our fourth year doing the Cork City Marathon. We always finish in a line, we get a great reception, the whole crowd really gets behind us,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kay O’Reagan, 79, finished the half-marathon. Cork native Michael Haydon finished his 250th marathon while Galway man Martin Keane also finished the half-marathon.

Aodhan Fitzsimmons ran the course dressed in a full body bear suit, raising money, and awareness, on behalf of Act for Meningitis while Terry Brady was the guy dressed as a bottle.

The Co Cavan man is warming up for the Waterford marathon where he will attempt to break the world record for the fastest marathon run while dressed as a bottle. The record stands at three hours, 31 minutes and 57 seconds and was set last year in London.

Terry is also raising funds for his one-year-old nephew Theo who has a very rare form of deafness. The cash will go towards getting Theo a bionic ear to allow him to hear for the first time and will also help with the aftercare and intensive speech therapy he will need.

Ciara Barry, from Blackrock, Co Cork took part in the relay with four other primary school teachers dressed as superheroes.

Ciara, who was dressed as Batwoman, said they were raising money for Holy Cross National School in Mahon. Her comrades dressed as Batman, Spiderman, Wonder Woman, and Superwoman.