Vicky Phelan has sent a message of support to her friend Charlie Bird as explained she was in too much 'pain' to travel to his book launch.
The CervicalCheck campaigner, who has terminal cancer, has struck up a great friendship with ex-RTE reporter Charlie, who is also battling a terminal illness, and the pair keep in touch via social media.
The Climb With Charlie coffee-table book, which features photos from the April 2 event, was released last week and was launched in Westport on Tuesday evening with a second launch in Dublin on Wednesday.
In a video uploaded to Twitter, Vicky said she was unable to attend the Westport launch as pain was currently a "huge issue" for her and she would need two days to recover after traveling.
She introduced herself on the video as a "good friend of Charlie Bird's", saying: "Unfortunately I couldn't be there at the launch today, Charlie.
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"As you know we both have our ups and downs with the illnesses we're dealing with, and unfortunately for me, pain is a huge issue at the moment, travelling and sitting around in uncomfortable chairs, I'm just unable to do it at the moment.
"It affects me for a day or two afterwards and I'm trying to recover then and take a lot of pain medication so unfortunately I couldn't come to your launch today.
"I will be with you in spirt. I'm there with you in spirit, Charlie, as I always am."
Vicky said the book was "absolutely amazing" and that she hoped it would raise a lot of money for Motor Neuron Disease.
"There's some fabulous photos from all around the country, from the Croagh Patrick event - which I obviously couldn't attend either, but members of my family were there to represent me - and it's just a fantastic achievement, and I would urge everybody to go out and buy a copy, because all of the proceeds and the profits will go to Motor Neuron Disease, and I know that's something that's very close to Charlie's heart."
She ended the video saying: "Love you Charlie, and talk to you soon."
Vicky's friendship with Charlie kicked off following their respective appearances on the Late Late Show last year and the pair met up for tea and scones in December, with Charlie later labelling the cancer campaigner as his "soulmate".
Vicky had initially planned to attend the Climb with Charlie event in April, which saw see Charlie scale Croagh Patrick to raise funds for the Irish Motor Neurone's Association and Pieta House.
However, when the event came around, she was too sick to do so and Charlie promised to light a candle for her on the top of the mountain, writing on Twitter: "When I get to the top the first candle I light will be for you Vicky my soulmate."
In a statement in November 2021, Vicky said that she would not be continuing with chemotherapy, and the treatment she is now receiving is just palliative.
But her followers were delighted to hear that she was well enough to take a week-long holiday with her family to Spain at the beginning of June this year.
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