Yet now, only three months after finishing harrowing treatment that included a double mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, she is training for a 444-mile cycle challenge in aid of cancer research.

The astonishingly resilient young woman will be joined on the Mizen to Malin cycle by three local friends, who have also launched a fundraising campaign to promote Donna's courageous venture.

Donna's best friend Bridget O'Gorman, a native of Ballymacarbry who works as an architect in Clonmel, will be joined on the cycle by her brother-in-law Dan O'Keeffe and her sister April O'Gorman, who works with the Cordis firm in Cashel.

All four are now training hard for the daunting cycle challenge, which will be held over five days in July, and a series of local fundraising events will begin this month. All money raised will be donated to Cancer Research Ireland, part of the Irish Cancer Society.

Bridget explains: "Since Donna finished her treatment she has been like us, training for the 444-mile challenge. If she can take part in it after all she's been through, none of us has an excuse!"

Bridget and Donna lived and studied Architecture together in Edinburgh for five years. Once they finsihed at university, Donna moved on to London and Bridget returned to Ireland, where she now works with Kenneth Hennessy Architects Ltd in Queen Stret, Clonmel.

Donna was already in hospital for another issue when she noticed a change around her breast area She asked a female doctor who was giving her an examination to look at the area that she was worried about.

The doctor examined her and Donna was very relieved to be told that it was probably just fibrous tissue that had gathered in the breast area. However, because of her family history and the fact that her mother had been treated for breast cancer two years earlier, the doctor suggested that she have it looked at by an expert.

It was two months before Donna was able to make another doctor's appointment. She was then told by her GP that it was virtually impossible for a woman her age to develop breast cancer and that the problem was probably just the result of a blocked duct.

Still not satisfied, Donna asked Bridget's GP to refer her to a hospital for tests. At that stage, she felt fairly confident that there was no major problem. Sadly, she was wrong. She had cancer.

Donna, a native of Belfast, wanted the support of her family and friends so she had all her treatments back in Northern Ireland.

Surgeons had to remove the cancer from her breast and lymph nodes and then she faced six sessions of chemotherapy every three weeks, followed by 25 radiotherapy treatments.