Charlie Bird has said the first candle he lights when he gets to the top of Croagh Patrick will be for his "soulmate" Vicky Phelan.
The former RTE broadcaster has Motor Neurone Disease and has organised "Climb with Charlie" to raise funds for Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta House.
Vicky Phelan planned to climb Croagh Patrick with Charlie on April 2, but no longer will be able to due to health issues.
Read more: Vicky Phelan pulls out of climb with Charlie Bird due to painful health complications
Taking to Twitter this morning, Charlie said Vicky is in his thoughts "everyday".
He said: "So sad that Vicky Phelan won’t be able to wave me off on the 2nd April when I start to climb Croagh Patrick, she has told me she will be with me in spirit - Vicky you are in my thoughts every day. When I get to the top the first candle I light will be for you Vicky my soulmate."
The cervical check campaigner said she spent the last two weeks recovering from complications which occurred during radiotherapy treatment and she made the "hard decision" to pull out of the charity climb.
She wrote on Instagram yesterday: "I am simply not well enough either physically or mentally. The past few weeks have really knocked the stuffing out of me and I need to focus on just getting well again.
"I have already been in touch with Charlie and he has been great about it."
Vicky said she was going home after spending two weeks in Milford Care Centre recovering from complications from radiotherapy treatment.
She said: "I have NEVER been so sick or in as much pain as I have been over the past two weeks!!! The radiotherapy increased the amount of pain I was in and also incapacitated me leaving me unable to walk without assistance.
"I am only now, in the past few days able to walk without either a 4-wheeler or a Zimmer frame. Walking long distances is still beyond me but I hope I will get there again.
"I only finished my last session of radiotherapy last Monday and it can take a couple of weeks for the effects to be felt so I am really hoping that I will be moving around a bit more freely in a couple of weeks time but I am also acutely aware that I may never regain what I had."
Climb with Charlie takes place on April 2 and you can find out details on how to donate and take part here.
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