Charlie Bird has praised Vicky Phelan as "remarkable" after the pair exchanged messages on his charity Croagh Patrick climb.
The veteran RTE reporter was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease last year and has spent the last few months "struggling" with his voice.
He has organised the Climb with Charlie fundraising event which will see hundreds of people take to Croagh Patrick in Mayo on April 2.
The trek aims to raise vital funds for the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta House, two charities "close" to Charlie's heart.
Charlie and Vicky met last December for the first time, with the pair becoming fast friends.
The CervicalCheck campaigner had previously said she would be unable to join Charlie on the Croagh Patrick climb, but in new messages exchanged on Saturday, she said she would do "everything" to attend the event.
Replying to a tweet about his plans to climb the Mayo mountain in April, Vicky said: "Charlie, I will do EVERYTHING within my power to be at Croagh Patrick on April 2 to wave you and all my family and friends and our supporters off.
"THIS is my goal once treatment finishes at the beginning of March. Fingers, toes and everything crossed I will BE there with you."
Charlie issued a heartwarming response to the mother-of-two, saying she should be given the 'freedom of Ireland'.
He said: "Vicky I want you to be there as well, you are a most remarkable human being, as I have said before, meeting you late last year was like catching up with an old friend.
"You should be given the freedom of this country. Thinking of you. Xxxx."
He revealed his plans for the charity event last month as he issued the latest update on his health.
Posting a video on Twitter, he said: "Months of struggling with my voice it’s now almost gone.
"I am in the fortunate position, thanks to Keith Davey from Marino Software, using cutting edge technology, I will have a cloned voice soon.
"I want people with similar voice issues to get the same opportunity as me."
He added: "In this very difficult chapter of my life, I want people to reach out the hand of friendship to one another.
"Every day across this country, people are battling their own mountains with physical and mental issues.
"So on Saturday, April 2 I will climb Croagh Patrick in aid of the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta House, two charities close to my heart.
"Aside from raising essential funds, I want this campaign to encourage people across Ireland to climb a mountain in their own local area to raise funds and also to recognise the physical and mental mountains many people have to climb every single day."
