Jan & Paul’s Stories

“I hate the way Motor Neurone Disease is taking my life bit by bit,” Paul Lannon

MND National Awareness Campaign

In January, Paul Lannon and Jan Battles, both of whom have Motor Neurone Disease (MND) recorded Radio Adverts to raise awareness of this disease and to try draw people’s attention to the difficulties they face every day.

Paul is 43 years old. In February 2011 he was diagnosed with MND.  From once being able to lift two kegs of beer at a time, he can no longer lift the kettle. Dressing himself is now impossible and he has recently started to have difficulties with his speech and swallow. He can no longer work.

Jan is 42 years old. In March 2013, Jan was diagnosed with MND. Soon after diagnosis she was walking with a stick, then a rollator, now a wheelchair. Her arms have become very weak. Her right shoulder sometimes dislocates as the muscles are no longer strong enough to hold her arm bone in place. Since recording the advert in January, her speech has become slurred and she now has difficulty speaking.

“All you can do is try to cope with every challenge this illness throws at us and there are many. It is relentless,” Jan Battles

In the new adverts, Jan and Paul share their stories about their terminal disease in the hope that greater awareness will generate increased support for those living with this degenerative condition.

Listen to Jan’s Story:

Listen to Paul’s Story:

To join Jan and Paul’s fight please visit imnda.ie to see how you can help. You can organise Drink Tea for MND events throughout the month of June. To register your event, please email fundraising@imnda.ie or Freefone 1800 403 403. To make a donation you can Text MND to 50300 and donate €2.

You can also visit an Insomnia store near you as IMNDA collection buckets will be there throughout the month of June and on the 21^st with 10c from all tea sales to be donated to the IMNDA.

The IMNDA provides specialised services for people affected by this debilitating disease such as equipment on loan, financial assistance towards home help, advice and home visits by MND Nurse. In order to provide these vital services the IMNDA depends heavily on the generosity of the public and supporters of the association who generate over 86% of its income.

ENDS

For more information please contact the Communications & PR Dept.

Derbhla Wynne or Maeve Leahy

(01) 873 0422 email pr@imnda.ie

Notes to Editor:

Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a progressive neurological condition that attacks the motor neurones, or nerves, in the brain and spinal cord. This means messages gradually stop reaching muscles, which leads to weakness and wasting.  MND can affect how you walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe. However, not all symptoms necessarily happen to everyone and it is unlikely they will all develop at the same time, or in any specific order.

The Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA) is the only organisation of its kind in this country. It was set up in May 1985 to provide care and support to people with Motor Neurone Disease, their carers, families and friends. There are currently over 310 people living with MND in Ireland. MND is often referred to as the 1,000 day disease as most people die within 1,000 days of being diagnosed.