Annette divided the money between the Inishowen Special Olympics Club where she is a volunteer, and the pain management team at St. Vincent's Hospital Dublin, where she had her spinal cord stimulator operation. Each received a cheque for 1,800 euro. Annette is currently on a three week pain management course at the hospital.

Annette had a fall practicing her Irish dancing four years ago and has been in chronic pain all of this time.

She had a peroneal tendon repair done three years ago but the pain persisted.

Last year she was referred to Dr. Declan O' Keefe, of the pain management team, St. Vincent's Hospital, who decided Annette needed a spinal cord stimulator inserted in her spine to control her pain. The stimulator is a very small battery about the size of a pace maker and it is placed under the skin, usually in the abdomen. An electrode sits near the spinal cord and delivers tiny amounts of electricity to the spinal cord. An extension lead connects the battery electrode. It will be there for life. Annette can control the battery with a hand held controller which she can use to switch the stimulator on and off. Annette carries the controller which would be the size of a mobile phone to control her pain.

Before Annette had her operation she was on crutches a lot of the time and was limited to what she could do especially walking. Now she has walked the mini marathon which is unbelievable. She is finally getting her life back on track after her four years of pain.