UNA O'Reilly, a native of Enniskillen who now lives in Belcoo, is currently undertaking a mammoth fitness challenge to raise funds for a local charity.

Una is on the home stretch of her 'Wild Atlantic Way' fitness challenge for the Oisín McGrath Foundation.

Having started the challenge in October, Una's mission is well under way to walk 500 miles (800km) before the end of January – the equivalent of the distance between Malin Head and Westport, Co. Mayo.

Although she's not literally walking from point to point, her 'virtual' challenge is seeing her cumulatively walking towards the overall target, as Una walks at various spots across Fermanagh.

This pragmatic approach has sent her well on the way to achieving her overall target and, as Una says: "By doing a virtual challenge, you do it at your own place and at your own pace."

Una is an outdoors lover, and many people across Fermanagh will recognise her from her work with the National Trust at Florencecourt.

Una, 64, has been focusing more on fitness after a health scare a few years ago. She had previously completed a walking challenge and decided to undertake a new one.

At the time of speaking to The Impartial Reporter, Una had raised more than £1,000 for the Oisín McGrath Foundation.

She was inspired to take part after encouragement from Nigel and Sharon McGrath, the late Oisín's parents.

"They encouraged me to walk when I first started doing couch-to-5k in Belcoo; they both encouraged me to walk, and really believed in me. It's nice to do something for someone else."

Talking about the benefits of exercise, Una said: "It's good for me to get out; it's good for the head, too."

Una has encouraged others to take up walking if they can. She advised: "You don't need to be an athlete, all you need is a bright-coloured coat and the will to go out. Things I thought were unachievable are now achievable."

One of the main benefits Una found from taking part in her challenges realising how capable she was: "I never thought I could walk from Belcoo to Florencecourt, but now I can."

Una prefers walking to running. She said: "When I walk, I see things I would miss if I was running. I've seen through three seasons so far while being out walking. It is especially beautiful seeing the Autumn colours; in Winter, it can be lonely and it can be dark, but there is the hope of Spring."

Readers can follow Una's journey on Facebook, and can donate via https://tinyurl.com/y85xlfgn.