Our Story
“The best views come after the hardest of climbs.
One foot in front of the other. One step at a time.”
A positive thing about a cancer diagnosis is the people you meet along the way. That instant click where you just "get" one another.
Dearbhaile first met Karen at a panel event (“Creative Transformation Through Adversity”) as part of the Dublin Book Festival in 2024. Later that year, they chatted again on Karen’s podcast (“Survivors’ Guide to Menopause and Cancer”).
With a shared love of the outdoors, fresh air, the restorative power of nature, good chats and great snacks, Karen joined Dearbhaile on many a training hike in the summer of 2025. A solid friendship formed, bonding over mountains and menobrain moments, where Dearbhaile searched for her Air Pods (that were in her ears) as Karen searched for her car keys (that were in her car).
Those mountain adventures planted a seed - the desire to create a community. A space where we can navigate cancer recovery, menopause and mountains together.
So we invite you to join us and lace up your boots, step outside, and find adventure again. Because in the end, you won’t remember the time spent working in the office, doom scrolling or answering texts. You’ll remember the fresh air, laughter, swearing on steep climbs and the moment you realised you are so much stronger than you thought.
Yes, we’re telling cancer to take a hike!
And discovering the magic of the mountains as we go.
Dearbhaile O'Hare
Dearbhaile is a breast cancer thriver, author, speaker, facilitator and exercise professional who firmly believes that movement is medicine and humour belongs in serious conversations.
She is the author of "Things Went T*ts Up", shortlisted for the CAP Awards in both 2024 and 2025, with all proceeds supporting the Marie Keating Foundation and Purple House Cancer Support.
Blending lived and learned experience, Dearbhaile advocates for evidence-based movement as a core part of recovery and long-term survivorship. She is a qualified Cancer Exercise Specialist, a Breast Cancer Patient Ambassador for the Marie Keating Foundation, a #BeActive Day Ambassador for Ireland Active, and an active PPI partner on the PERCS2 leadership panel at Trinity College Dublin/St James’s Cancer Institute.
Dearbhaile’s preferred habitat is hiking mountains, and most weekends can be found roaming the Wicklow hills or Slieve Blooms with her husband Paul and their chaotic sproodle, Bowie. In 2025, she took on the Mourne Mountains 77s Challenge, dressed as a giant inflatable boob, to both raise awareness and funds for breast cancer support services.
Dearbhaile hopes to see structured exercise programmes becoming a prescribed part of future cancer care pathways, empowering all cancer patients to climb back stronger after the fight of their lives. She believes that recovery after a cancer diagnosis isn’t about “bikini bodies” or “personal bests”, but about reclaiming strength, confidence, and joy in the outdoors and movement.
Dearbhaile's qualifications include:
-
National Qualification in Exercise, Health Studies and Personal Training (NTC, 2023)
-
National Qualification in Kettlebells Training (NTC, 2023)
-
Cancer and Exercise Rehabilitation Award (CanRehab UK, 2023)
-
National Qualification in Strength and Conditioning for Personal Trainers (NTC, 2024)
-
Mountain Skills Training Level 1 (Mountaineering Ireland, 2025)
-
Cancer Thriving and Surviving Leader (National Cancer Control Program, 2026)
-
Cancer and Exercise Rehabilitation Revalidation Course (CanRehab UK, April 2026)
-
Lowland Leader Training (Mountaineering Ireland, 2026 *currently in progress*)
“It’s not about a bikini bod,
or having perfect form.
It’s to be healthy and happy
and stronger than your storm.”
Karen Kruger
Karen Kruger is a breast cancer thriver and a Wicklow-based Menopause, Nutrition and Cancer coach. Karen has coached hundreds of women who are navigating menopause during and after cancer with practical, lifestyle and nutrition-led tools.
She is host to podcast Survivors' Guide to Menopause and Cancer. The podcast aims to support, empower and educate women.
Karen believes the outdoors can be a powerful ally in recovery. Hiking was an important part of Karen’s own recovery during and after treatment - helping her rebuild strength, steady her mind, regulate stress, and find steady hope in small, consistent steps. She’s an active local hiker often on familiar favourites close to home - Devil’s Glen is her back garden and Glendalough is only a short drive away. Her love of the trail began at a very young age, inspired by a family tradition her father led every 27th December, on an extended family hike up the Crone Woods trail.
Karen brings a supportive, wellbeing focused and quietly brave spirit in the survivor community; where no one is left behind. As an active patient ambassador for Breast Cancer Ireland her story was used for the Breast Cancer Awareness campaign in 2023. She generally doesn't take 'no' for an answer and when her doctor told her that she would never lift heavy again after cancer Karen refused to accept it. She defied the doctor and created a healthy habit of strength training training five times a week. Alongside hiking experience, she also brings a strong wellbeing foundation through her coaching work and professional qualifications, helping survivors feel safe, capable, and connected as they move forward.
Karen's qualifications include:
-
Mountain Skills Training 1 (Mountaineering Ireland, 2026)
-
Qualified Menopause Lifestyle Practitioner (MyMT 2024)
-
Certificate in Nutritional Health (CMIT 2024)
-
Diploma in Executive & Leadership Coaching (Coaching & Mentoring Partnership, 2018)
-
NLP Practitioner Certification – Matrix Training, Dubai (2012)
-
Certificate in Psychotherapy (CCPE, London, 2005)
-
MSc in Forensic Psychology (University of Kent, 2003)
Karen believes in simple life choices and self-compassion to reduce the mist that hangs over us after cancer.
"Feel more like you after cancer.
Simple food choices, calmer living, stronger days."
