A mother whose life was derailed by drugs is now running half marathons with the daughter she lost care over during her addiction.
Fiona Taaffe, 57, completed her first Dublin Half Marathon with daughter Karinann, 25, last month.
Next weekend, she and Karinann will lace up their runners again for Coolock Running Club's Another Way 5K at Darndale Park in North Dublin.
Six years into her recovery, the mum-of-two says the club has played a "massive" role in her rehabilitation.
This is the fourth year of the race, which highlights the availability of help for those involved with drugs and criminality and is part of a local campaign to Get The Message Out on alternatives to addiction.
"For 30 years, I used anything going, including crack cocaine," said Ms Taaffe, from Dublin's Kilmore.
"My marriage broke up, my drug use got worse and I lost interest in my children.
"My family tried to help, but I would not listen.
"I hit rock bottom, and if there is another rock bottom below it, I hit that too.
"I was happy to choose drugs over my daughter.
"She was taken by my family at 12."
Her older son, Christopher, was already in the care of her family at that point.
Family intervention in 2019 warned Ms Taaffe her future involved her either going to prison or being found dead.
That initiated a five-month stay at Limerick's Cuan Mhuire Treatment Centre, and a new life.
"In recovery I wanted to keep active. I walked a lot and would see runners and think 'I would like to try that' but self-doubt kicked in.
"After hearing Coolock Running Club was being formed I went along to its first night, but realised I could not run.
"I kept showing up and the support I received was amazing.
"I was told it was 'me against me'.
"I was always last, but in my first 5K, members came back to bring me over the line.
"I will never forget it.
"I did a 10K and said I would never do another.
"Then I ran the Dublin City Half Marathon last month with Karinann.
"Coolock Running Club is more than a community; it is a family and a massive part of my recovery.
"I have a wonderful life now, but many times I wanted to end it. I have my kids back, and a job and an apartment.
"I never in a million years thought I would do these things."
The Another Way 5K is a collaboration between Coolock Running Club, local community organisations, Get The Message Out and endurance athlete, Ger Redmond.
Running also played a huge part in transforming his life after imprisonment for involvement with drugs.
The success of the event prompted Ger and his friend Anthony Brady to establish the club in 2023.
It is one of a number of projects backed by the Darndale Implementation Oversight Group, a Dublin City Council initiative to tackle complex and ingrained issues in Darndale.
Group chairman, Dr Jack Nolan, said such events are needed to show communities affected by drugs that they are not forgotten.
He said: "Darndale Another Way 5K encourages people to consider a different way of life by highlighting opportunities, services and activities."
The 5K takes place on Saturday April 26 at 11am, starting and finishing at Darndale Park.