Cavan woman named gets audience vote at most inspiring awards

A Cavan woman battling a rare and incurable form of bone marrow cancer has won the Audience Choice Award at this year's Outsider.ie Olly O’Neill Most Inspiring Person 2024 awards.

Brenda O’Keeffe (46) hopes to run her 600th lifetime marathon by June of this year.

When she was told her of diagnosis at University College Hospital in London in August last year it hit like a bombshell.

The Harmony Heights native had been suffering a series of spontaneous and serious bleeds to her neck, liver, and spleen. She spent months in hospital. The longest stint was 39 days with medical experts baffled as to the exact cause of her debilitating illness.

By March 2024 Brenda was told she “could” have cancer, but one so rare it was hard for doctors to detect. It turned out to be Amyloidosis AL of the heart, kidney, liver, bone marrow and spleen.

“Multiple myeloma. Incurable,” is what her treating physician told her.

Brenda’s is an incredible story of determination and perseverance, and a big part of the reason why her brother Geoff has nominated his sister for the coveted Outsider.ie Olly O’Neill Most Inspiring Person 2024 award. Sponsored by Craghoppers, the award recognises normal Irish people who, despite being faced with insurmountable odds, go above and beyond to encourage others to share their love of outdoor and adventure pursuits.

Read more on Brenda's story here.