Fergus Farrell

I didn't believe in mental health.

I didn't believe in stress.

I didn't believe in any of those type of things when I was building my business and before this accident because I didn't have time to understand them.

So when I was in that ward, I discovered I need challenge and competition in my life.

That's what makes me.

That's what makes me get up out of my bed every morning.

And I did that throughout my whole life, but I didn't realise I was doing it.

And so when I came out with NRH.

Yeah, to aim for, to reach for.

But when I got out, I didn't.

And that's why I ended up in that ward.

So when I discovered this, I said, when am I going to be the happiest?

What's going to make me happy?

And I went back to a part of my life when I was like maybe 17 to 21, 22.

I was so happy.

Why was I so happy?

it wasn't just around the sport it was just I had time for people and I had time to develop relationships and have fun and enjoy life I said that's where I need to replicate again that's where I need to be I don't want to be back to the ratty Fergus that I was when I was building a business because I didn't have time for people so I made a plan I did that and one of the plans was to create a challenge and that challenge was to walk across the country one year after my accident 206 kilometres and at that stage I could only walk about 300 metres so I set a mammoth challenge laughing

Yeah, well, I told the NRH because I was fundraising for the NRH and they brought me up and set me down in this room and I'll never forget it.

The consultant was there, Eimear, and physio and occupational therapy and they're all sitting around and they're saying, why are you doing this?

And I said, well, I want to raise money for the NRH and I need to do it for myself as well to help my progress because I was still only stumbling on my feet.