A Portadown gym-owner has set herself an almighty ‘Norn Iron Woman’ challenge to raise vital funds for Evora Hospice in memory of one of her closest friends.
On August 6, Arise Fitness owner Amy Wethers will be starting the mammoth undertaking of completing six full-distance triathlons in six weeks.
She will complete one in every county in Northern Ireland – and with the more commonly known Ironman challenge as inspiration – has branded her own effort the ‘Norn Iron Woman’.
Amy – a fitness fanatic and avid volleyball player – will put her body through a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile cycle and 26-mile run on each occasion… all in honour of a close friend she lost to cancer and to raise money for the hospice that cared for her in her most trying days.
Speaking to Armagh I, Amy explained: “I lost a good friend to cancer and she used the Southern Area Hospice [Evora Hospice] for a couple of weeks. Their care was unbelievable. It really changed my opinion of the hospice.
“You think of hospice and that a hospice isn’t a good place to go. But those guys couldn’t have done enough. You walk in and the atmosphere was actually uplifting and there was so much hope. They have also been brilliant with their care and aftercare.”
Starting in county Fermanagh the inspirational athlete will swim a total of 14.4 miles, cycle 672 miles and run 156 miles by the time she ends the challenge at South Lake Leisure Centre in her home county, Armagh.
The route in Armagh will start at South Lake Leisure Centre for the swim before she cycles a lap of the lough, into Armagh city and back. Amy will then finish by running along the towpath for a distance and back to the leisure centre.
In each county, her swims will be completed in local pools – due to the shortage of safe and suitable open water, which she says might make it a little bit “easier”!
Amy will be going solo with each attempt but will have her trusty support team at her side the entire time in a kindly sponsored support vehicle to take her bike and a spare, food supplies and everything else she will need to complete the effort.
When asked if she had ramped up her training, Amy laughed and said: “I’m flat out! It’s massive. This is the most training I’ve probably done.
“I’m running 40 miles a week, swimming three or four times and out on the bike. I would always be training but this is a lot, lot more.”
But – always being up for a challenge – she is enjoying it all!
Amy has opened a JustGiving page with a target of £3,000 for Evora Hospice. She will also have flyers printed for the side of her support vehicle with a QR code for anyone who wishes to donate on the day.
Keep your eyes peeled for her out and about – she will be wearing a specially designed T-shirt with the Norn Iron Woman logo – and be sure to shout your words of encouragement!
