Limerick woman's journey to defy illness by conquering 30-day charity event
AS SHE undergoes treatment for breast cancer, one Castletroy woman is preparing to embark on a fundraising journey for the Marie Keating Foundation, by walking 100km in 30 days.
Karen Dowling is due to complete her chemotherapy treatment in the first week of June, and aims to achieve her goal of walking 100km during the same month.
The initiative, known as 100K in 30 Days, will not only contribute to the breast cancer charity, but also serve as a celebration of Karen's resilience and strength.
Already a survivor of cervical cancer, Karen was diagnosed in 2010 when she was just 23 years-old. “That's in the past,” she said. “I beat that, so it's all good.”
Now at the age of 36, Karen is facing another battle with the disease, having found a lump in October 2022, followed shortly by a diagnosis of breast cancer in early December.
Having worked as a psychotherapist, Karen left her job soon after diagnosis and began chemotherapy in January.
“I have weeks of chemo and then I have surgery and radiotherapy,” she said. On an optimistic note, Karen adds that her outlook is positive, as it was “found early”.
As she stresses the importance of the self-examinations, she exclaims: “I was young, fit and healthy.”
The positive outlook by doctors is “thanks to doing a breast check,” she admits.
The idea of doing the challenge came to Karen as she utilised the foundation more so than with her first diagnosis back in 2010.
“I was using a lot of the services in Limerick this time around, and I saw an ad on the event, and how they were looking for ambassadors,” she explained.
“I thought ‘do you know what, this is a really good goal’ as I am due to celebrate finishing chemo in June.”
As a way to give back, and indeed get back, Karen advocates for making the most of life.
“I have highlighted this to my friends and family,” she begins, “they always say I am so positive, but I have to assure them that I am not positive, I am just living.”
Agreeing that aspects of life do stop upon diagnosis, such as work, but Karen adds that there are good days with the bad, and there are still things you can do in spite of a diagnosis.
“It's super important to actually exercise while going through cancer treatment,” Karen reveals. “It's scientifically proven that exercise helps your body metabolise the chemotherapy drugs”.
While a great deal of strength goes into living her life the way she means, Karen admits, that bad days do befall her too.
“Don't get me wrong, there are days where I don't do a tap, but it's just about getting out when you can,” she candidly says.
As far as control goes, Karen adds that sometimes with a diagnosis like hers, exercise and keeping active is the only “controllable.” While “totally dependent” on her feelings that day, Karen admits that often the only way to get energy back from the common fatigue she experiences is to do any form of exercise.
Currently in menopause because of the chemotherapy, Karen reveals that she is in a position where her bones could get weaker, with risks of osteoporosis, but admits that exercise when she is feeling up to it allows her to “stay strong.”
Looking to those like Vicky Phelan, in the face of the disease, Karen firmly believes that cancer does not have to define a person.
Sharing her story on Instagram, she admits that she often receives praise for her inspirational outlooks, whereas she believes that life is meant to be lived, and will stop at nothing until she shares that message with all who want to listen.
With an open invitation to join her, she has created a league called Karen's Pink Army on the official website of the campaign.
Those who wish to participate in this challenge can sign up or donate to the cause.