Caroline ready to show her mettle!

ACCESS to a drug has been truly life-changing for Tuam’s Caroline Heffernan. Having spent much of her life breathless from Cystic Fibrosis, the past two years have put the thought of transplants out of her head and she's ready to face her biggest sporting challenge to date.

This Sunday (Oct 7), Caroline and Tuam cyclist Brian Óg McNamara, whose son has CF, as well as several other members of Tri Lakes triathlon club will take on the Ironman challenge in Barcelona.
Just over a year ago, after much campaigning, an agreement was reached between the HSE and the drug maker to allow Irish CF patients, with a certain gene mutation, access to the drug Kalydeco. Caroline says she was fortunate to have been on a drug trial before that and the drug is certainly working for her. “It has been life-changing for me and has added years on to my life and given me a much better quality of life.”
Caroline loves to focus on a challenge and admits if she didn’t have a goal to work towards, she would find it difficult to be as active as she is.
Before taking Kalydeco Caroline’s condition had deteriorated to the point when the word transplant was being discussed at home. However, climbing the stairs is no longer an ordeal and a few weeks ago she successfully ran 20 miles with a group from Eyre Square in Galway to The Square in Tuam in aid of MS Ireland.
The determined 48-year-old also completed a cycle from Malin Head to Mizen Head in aid of CF Ireland and has always loved swimming and cycling. Sunday will see her take on her biggest sporting challenge to date. An Ironman course isn’t for the faint-hearted or those short of breath! It’s a gruelling event that comprises a 3.8km swim, a 180km cycle and ends with a 42.2km run.
Caroline went to the event last year to cheer on her friends and because she was feeling so well at the time she said, “Let’s make hay while the sun shines and just go for it”.
“I’d prefer to have a go rather then wonder afterwards if I could have done it,” says Caroline, who has enjoyed huge health benefits since taking Kalydeco.
Over the past two weeks she has had some health setbacks and has had to mind herself and do everything possible to build herself back up in order to take part in the Ironman event. But all the hard work is done, she assures.

Since Caroline decided to embark on the Ironman challenge she has been training for the event with her friends in the Tri Lakes triathlon club as well as a triathlete coach and physio in Dublin.
“At the beginning I couldn’t run 5km, never mind consider 42km,” laughs Caroline. “I’ll either be one of the fittest people on the sideline or be on the start line in a few weeks’ time.”
Support from friends has been a huge influence on Caroline’s training and, in particular, her friend and now “shadow” Orla Heneghan who has been on previous fundraising challenges with her.
“It has been amazing. Orla has been so supportive. We’d be out on the bikes for maybe six or seven hours at a time as well as all the running.”
Caroline also realises that taking part in such an arduous challenge will have repercussions.
“I know it will take a lot out of me. I am prepared for the chest being tight and the body being very sore and tired. But, I’m good at minding myself and my lung function is at the highest it has been for ages.”
Caroline will be travelling with ten other people from the area who are competing in Ironman Barcelona and some 40 supporters and well-wishers.

As an advocate for Cystic Fibrosis Caroline says she is living proof of just how exercise can benefit your health. So far, she has raised in the region of €6,000 for CF Ireland and all the funds will go towards the exercise grant administered by the charity which helps get more people with Cystic Fibrosis more active.
“Exercise is so important for CF sufferers. Even standing up and then sitting down a few times helps. Exercise is what you start and doing a little bit as often as you can.”
Watching Caroline during the Ironman course will be her mum and already successful triathlon and Ironman competitor sister Celia Davin.
Caroline, like her sister Celia, has great determination and loves a challenge. “I suppose there’s a bit of a stubborn streak in us,” laughs Caroline.
To support Caroline’s fundraising efforts, donate via https://give.everydayhero.com/ie/ironman-barcelona-1.