A Cork man who quit smoking six months ago is walking from Dublin to Cork to raise money for a charity that provides service dogs to people with autism.
Colm Doyle from Glenville smoked for 35 years and quit the habit in November last year with help from the HSE’s Quit Smoking Service.
Colm is part of a group of eight people who will leave Liffey Valley on Thursday morning and finish in Mallow seven days later after walking 242 kilometres along the old N8 road.
The group are aiming to raise money to help the Blackpool based My Canine Companion to find a new centre to allow them to meet increasing demand for service dogs.
Speaking to RedFM News, Colm Doyle says he would not be able for a challenge like this if he was still smoking:
"I smoked 25-30 cigarettes today, so I was a heavy smoker. If I even attempted to walk 5k or 10k, it was something I wouldn't even contemplate.
"If I did manage to do it - I would have been out of breath.
"To take on a challenge like this, the last couple of weeks I've been out walking and I haven't been out of breath, I'm enjoying it more.
"It's amazing the moment, all the different flowers and their smell, I don't think I've ever smelled things as well before."
