My name is Conn and I am running the 2026 Dublin Marathon for Movember Team. Why am I running? Some of my fondest memories of my mother are centred around running. Whether the two of us were being pelted with powdered paint at the colour run, or the family were cheering her on at her half marathons and triathlons and laughing at her crazy training run “techniques”, or, best of all, watching her sprint past Dad to finish a fun-run 5k. Mum’s passion for running and exercise lifted all of us with her, out of the house, around the country, and undoubtably, closer to one another. One race Mum was never afforded time to run was, however, a full marathon. Injuries and eventually illness unfortunately spited her, and I am sure that we would have been cheering her across the line eventually, had she had her way. So, when the opportunity arose to run the Dublin Marathon on the Movember fundraising team this year, I knew it was a chance to run this race on her behalf. Why Movember? Movember is a charity that have played a massive role in my life over past year. In November, I was lucky enough to be a part of a team composed of over 21 friends and family of James Flannery, a great friend who sadly passed away last year. The campaign raised over €60,000 and was awarded at the Movember awards but, more importantly, gave all involved the chance to honour James and grow closer together while doing it. The events, forfeits and ‘taches brought us all closer together and was made all the more possible by Movember’s incredible team and resources. For this I am so grateful and I feel very excited to be able to raise money for the charity.