Covid 19 survivor Donal is fighting fit after completing 10k challenge

Donal Bradley spent 13 days in intensive care in Letterkenny University Hospital and Galway University Hospital in March after contracting the virus.

The story of his recovery and a video of him being cheered by neighbours as he returned home to Burwood went ‘viral’ around the world as people held on to good news.

Donal’s recovery was attributed to the fact he was a non-smoker and was relatively fit and healthy.

He told the Journal how he feels he is ‘one of the lucky ones’ as he had no lasting effects from his illness. He outlined how ‘it felt brilliant’ to complete the 10k alongside a team of other runners who have given him strong support.

“I’m getting on grand. I’ve been one of the lucky ones. I’ve had no side effects and I know there are people who have had a lot of trouble. Some are still struggling with it.”

Donal first started running two years ago after joining up to a Couch to 5k programme. Before he became sick, he and four others had signed up to complete the Ballyliffin Coastal Challenge.

While the event itself had to be postponed due to Covid 19 restrictions, participants were encouraged to undertake the challenge themselves.

“We had this wee group prior to Covid and have been doing runs during the week. We saw this challenge and thought we’d do it, although then officially it was cancelled. I had been doing a lot of walking after I recovered and I kept at it. I thought to myself that one day I’d try a bit of jogging. And then I did. It went grand and I kept on going, so when it came up about doing the challenge again I thought I’d give it a go.”

Donal said it ‘rained from the heavens’ during the run, which was two weeks ago, but ‘sure it did no harm and it went well’. “And do you know what, it felt brilliant,” he added.

The team did the course from Ballyliffin and all met up at the end. Donal completed the seven mile/10km route.

“It was a challenge to myself to see if I could achieve it and I was over the moon that I did.”

Donald told how the doctors and nurses who treated him said his level of fitness before he became sick ‘stood to him.’

“Two years ago, someone in Buncrana came up with the Couch to 5k and we started from scratch and built it up. We got great training. Joanne Whoriskey and her husband Ronan set the schedule and it was great.

“When I was in hospital, the first question you get is: ‘do you smoke?’ I said I didn’t and they told me that this, as well as that personal wee bit of fitness I had, stood to me when I got sick. The nurse said there were all these boxes and I ticked all of them. Most Covid patients, when they go to their lowest ebb, it seems that their organs fail but mine didn’t.”

Donal said he cannot remember much about his time in hospital and still has blank periods, but laughed as he remembered how at one stage he thought he was ‘at a hooley in Lisnaskea with the ‘wee man from Strabane playing.’

Donal has no underlying conditions and spent a week on a ventilator in Galway hospital.

He is very grateful to have recovered and told how many prayers were said for him. “There were so many prayers. People were very good. I could not have asked for better support. And that welcome home was another thing - I didn’t expect that at all. I didn’t know anything about it ahead of time. I was just focused on getting home and then, when I came around the corner and saw the welcome for me, well, it was just brilliant.”

A video of the moment was shared far and wide, even reaching as far as Australia. “They must be hard pushed for news in Australia,” quipped Donal, but admitted how his recovery brought hope in such a dark time.

“I think, when I came out, it was such a frightening time and it looked like there was no end to it. I think people wanted some good news.”

Donal, a driving instructor, is back at work and ‘enjoying it’ although he’s still taking it easy. He’s grateful to be fit and well and also paid tribute to the team of runners who have supported him in his recovery - Michelle McLaughlin, Catherine Carter, Karen Jackson and Alison Bardini.