Lorna Murphy (29) from Derrygonnelly, a Claims manager for Quinn Direct in Dublin, has joined forces with four of her colleagues to represent the company in the ultimate Bayer 100 Hour challenge this July.

Lorna's team will join 14 others from across Ireland's corporate sector to compete in the event which runs from the 2-6 July. They will attempt to cover 100 miles, the equivalent of four marathons, climb 10,000 metres over the course of four days and four hours in a bid to conquer the 26 highest peaks of Ireland, North and South.

Readers may remember the story of Lorna falling from Knockmore Mountain back in 2000.

She fell 150 foot from the cliff face of Knockmore breaking her pelvis in five places, as well as her collar bone and cracked her breastplate.

Now in this latest challenge, it will be the nearby Cuilcagh mountain that Lorna will scale when she reaches the county in next month's Challenge.

"I became involved in the Bayer 100 challenge after hearing about it through the Women in Business and Finance group where the organiser, Ian McKeever, will be giving a talk next month," Lorna explains.

"I went on his website and contacted him immediately as it seemed like a really exciting event to become involved in and for two great charities.

"Although I haven't been a part of any challenge like this before, I ran the Tokyo marathon last year and climbed Mt Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan the year before. I developed a passion for climbing while living in Japan and I've always enjoyed hiking. I'm also training for the Dublin Marathon this October."

The Challenge is in support of the work of the Aids Partnership with Africa and Sophia Housing, who work with the homeless in Ireland.

Teams of up to four have been set the demanding challenge of climbing all of the highest peaks in each of the 32 counties of Ireland, six of which border neighbouring counties, such as the Galtee's in Limerick which spill into Tipperary. Hence, there are 26 peaks, and not 32, to be climbed, in 100 hours or less, which must include all transportation, recuperation and logistics.

The winning team will be decided by time trials when they complete their final mountain in Donegal before 12 noon on Sunday July 6th.

Henrik Wulff, Managing Director of Bayer Ltd Ireland, explained the ethos behind this year's inaugural challenge:

"The Bayer 100 Hour Challenge is designed to provide the ultimate team test, not only in physical and mental terms but moreover, in their capacity to perform as a team that can motivate themselves in challenging and difficult circumstances.

"The lessons they learn can then be translated back into the workplace'

The Challenge begins on Carrountohill Mountain in Kerry, finishing on Mount Errigal in Donegal .

The current record for the Challenge set in June 2006 of 98 hours and 45 minutes is held by a team that included the seven summits' world record holder, Ian Mc Keever. He, together with Cathal Cregg from the same team, will be responsible for organising this year's Team Challenge.

Anyone wishing to sponser Lorna can make a donation by logging onto www.mycharity.ie/event/bayer100lornamurphy