News
GAA Stars Support Hurling For Hope fundraiser
January 13th, 2022
GAA Stars Support Hurling For Hope fundraiser in aid of Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation & Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association
A group of friends, players, mentors and teammates from Ballyhaunis GAA Club in Mayo, have come together and organised a unique fundraising event to support two charities, the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation and the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Launched today at Croke Park, by Jacqui Hurley RTE Sport, Keith Higgins, former Mayo footballer and Tom Parsons CEO GPA, the Hurling for Hope fundraiser will also see Keith along with clubmates “solo” a hurling ball from the Mayo Roscommon Hospice in Castlebar via Claremorris, Ballyhaunis and Castlerea and finish at the Mayo Roscommon Hospice in Roscommon, covering a distance of 100kms. The players will be joined by a myriad of current and past GAA players along the route. The event will take place over four days commencing on Wednesday 23rdMarch and finishing on Saturday 26th March.
CEO of Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation Martina Jennings said:
“We are so delighted that Frank Browne and the huge team involved have chosen us as one of the benefitting charities, for this unique and challenging fundraiser. 2021 saw the Foundation launch our specialist palliative care unit in Roscommon, the second unit to be launched in 3 years and this was made possible from incredible fundraisers just like Hurling For Hope. As we continue to fund palliative care services in our community and hospices we encourage everyone to get out and support this fantastic group along their journey and we are so grateful to all the organisers.”
Lillian McGovern, CEO of IMNDA said.
“Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association is delighted to be one of the chosen charities by the Hurling for Hope campaign. This imaginative event is going to create great awareness of Motor Neurone Disease in the major towns throughout Mayo and Roscommon. The services provided by the IMNDA will benefit greatly from this fundraiser and will allow us to deliver the vital services to families that have been affected by MND. We are a small organisation and we rely heavily on fundraising & donations from events like these. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in Hurling for Hope and wish them all the success with their fundraising endeavours.”
Jacqui Hurley, RTE Sport said.
“I’m delighted to be involved in this amazing fundraising initiative, supporting two great charities. I think the last 2 years have shown us just how much events like this can lift community spirit. I’m sure the lads will knock a bit of craic out of the journey along the way too and I’m looking forward to following their progress.”
Keith Higgins. 4 Time All Star said.
“On behalf of the Hurling For Hope group, we are delighted to be undertaking this challenge on behalf of both the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation. Our aim is to raise awareness and some much needed funds for these two fantastic charities which are close to all our hearts.
We hope that as many people as possible can come out and support us along the journey and even solo a few miles.”
idonate: www.idonate.ie/hurlingforhope
Twitter: @hurling4hope
Facebook: Hurling For Hope
Insta:@hurling4hope
ENDS
For further information contact hurlingforhope@gmail.com or 087 0515370
Climb with Charlie – Up-dates
January 10th, 2022
‘We would like to thank everyone for their interest in Climb with Charlie on April 2nd next in aid of IMNDA and Pieta. As you can appreciate we have been inundated with queries and are currently working on all the details. We will have further information over the coming days to confirm arrangements for the climb. Watch this space!’
Climb With Charlie
January 7th, 2022
On Saturday April 2nd, Charlie Bird will climb Croagh Patrick in aid of the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta House.
Due to Charlie’s Motor Neurone Disease diagnosis, the climb will be an immense challenge but he is determined to do it to highlight the vast mountains so many people have to climb in their everyday lives due to severe illness, physical and mental.
The campaign is encouraging everyone to ‘Climb With Charlie’, meaning not just climbing physical mountains, but getting through all the serious challenges in their lives.
While Charlie and his close friends and family embark on their climb on the weekend of April 2nd, the campaign encourages everyone all over Ireland and indeed all over the world get behind his efforts and arrange their own climb in their local area, with all monies raised going to two really worthy charities.
People can donate to the campaign or find out more on www.climbwithcharlie.ie All funds raised will go to the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta House.
Due to COVID restrictions, health & safety, and ongoing environmental works on Croagh Patrick, the campaign cannot facilitate large numbers of people on Croagh Patrick on April 2nd. Therefore, Charlie is encouraging people to climb in their local area, and to keep on climbing the mountains of their personal battles.
Additional:
Charlie Bird pictured along Bray Promenade.
Pic Steve Humphreys
1st December 2017
For more information please contact:
Rory Sweeney Paul Allen
Paul Allen & Associates Paul Allen & Associates
18 Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin 2 18 Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin 2
01 676 9575 / 086 897 6442 01 676 9575 / 087 257 5700
Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA)
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.
MND strikes people of all ages and there is currently no cure for MND, symptoms can be managed to help you achieve the best possible quality of life.
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 400 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.
Our key services include:
- Home visiting by our Four MND Nurse Specialists
- Financial assistance towards home care
- Providing specialist medical equipment free of charge to our clients
- Assistance towards counselling
- Supporting research into the causes and treatments of MND
- Freefone Information support line for clients and families
The Association relies heavily on fundraising activities from our members and supporters. We need to raise over 80% of our overall income. It costs approx. 2.4 million to run the Association each year. For more information or to make a donation, contact us on: 01 670 5942, email info@imnda.ie or visit our web-site: www.imnda.ie
For more information on IMNDA please contact:
Derbhla Wynne
PR & Communications Executive
01 670 5942 or pr@imnda.ie
Hurling4hope!
December 22nd, 2021
A group of friends, players mentors and teammates from Ballyhaunis GAA Club have decided to pull together and organise a fundraising event to support some local charities.
The lads are going to “solo” a hurling ball from the Mayo Roscommon Hospice in Castlebar via Claremorris, Ballyhaunis and Castlerea and finish at the Mayo Roscommon Hospice in Roscommon a distance of 100kms, they will be joined along the way by a multitude of GAA personalities and clubs. The walk will take place over 4 days and all money raised will be divided equally between the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation and the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA).
The event will commence on Wednesday 23rd. of March 2022 and finish on Saturday 26th. March 2022 and the route is as follows:
· Day One. Wednesday, March23rd. Castlebar to Claremorris.
· Day Two. Thursday, March 24th. Claremorris to Ballyhaunis.
· Day Three. Friday, March 25th. Ballyhaunis to Castlerea.
· Day Four. Saturday, March 26th. Castlerea to Roscommon.
All donations will be greatly and kindly accepted. The easiest way to donate is to follow the following link to the lads donation page www.idonate.ie/hurlingforhope
Also, you can hugely help by following them on their social media channels and by liking and sharing their posts @hurling4hope
Thankyou!
Closure for Christmas Period
December 22nd, 2021
The IMNDA office will be closed on Thursday 23rd December at 1pm and will reopen on Tuesday 4th January at 9am.
We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our families, carers, friends and supporters a very happy and peaceful Christmas and we look forward to seeing you in the new year.
100km Sydney Cycle for IMNDA!!
December 21st, 2021
Stephen Attride & a group of friends cycled 100k from Sydney to Wollongong on the 20th of November to raise funds for the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA). The group did this in memory of Stephen’s dad Mark Attride who sadly passed from MND in 2015. Mark was an avid cyclist and Stephen and his group of friends wanted to do this to keep Mark’s memory alive and to raise funds at the same time.
TEAM MEMBERS: Aaron Foley, Brendan Browne, Conor O’Regan, Cormac Walsh, Ciaran Moran, Christy Alwyard, Florence Doherty, James O’Regan, Joseph Kinahan, Kevin Lee, Kevin Walsh, Laura Brudell, Linda Lodge, Michael Byrne, Michael Carey, Michael Mc Weeney, Sarah Tierney, Sean Dalton, Sean Devaney, Shane Keane, SJ Cody, Stephen Attride, Tim Brosnan.
A massive thank you to everyone who took part in this memorial cycle to remember Mark as they raised a staggering €14,247!
Aughnamullen GAA Poker Fundraiser
December 21st, 2021
Aughnamullen GAA held a poker fundraiser to support the IMNDA this year in memory of Sheila Ward and they raised €1,210. Thanks very much to them for your support!
Coldvember
December 21st, 2021
Well done to Dervila O’Brien and Amy Pollmann who held a “Coldvember” fundraiser whereby they did a swim everyday in November to raise funds for IMNDA. They raised a €1,000 for so thanks very much to them! Here they are pictured with all their friends who joined them throughout the month…
72 Year Old Mary Raises Over 6K from Abseil Event!!
December 17th, 2021
We want to say a massive thank you to Mary Lynch who is 72 and did the abseil at the Generator Tower in Smithfield last Halloween along with her niece Julie!!
Mary is a veteran abseiler as she has taken on the abseil in the Croke Park too. Mary and Julie managed to get themselves plenty of press coverage from doing this event and they are pictured here presenting the cheque to our IMNDA Board Member Katie Hallissy.
We would like to say a massive thank you to Mary & her niece Julie for raising €6,336!! Well done ladies!!
Faith’s Hair Cut For MND
December 14th, 2021
Hi I’m Faith & I’m 8 years old. This December I’m cutting my hair to raise funds for IMNDA. I’m doing this in memory of my Nanny who died in September from motor neurone disease. The IMNDA were a great help to my Nanny when she was sick and I want to raise funds for them. I will be cutting 12 inches from my hair and donating it to Locks of Love who make wigs for children. All money I raise will go to IMNDA.
I hope you can help me by donating whatever you can. Simply click here to see more about my fundraiser where you can make a donation and once you visit that page you can share it with your friends and family so they can donate too. Many Thanks for your support.
Faith will be cutting her hair this Friday 17th December in front of her class! And we wish her all the best with her fundraising.
To see Faith’s newspaper story please visit this link: https://www.offalyexpress.ie/news/offaly-life/707273/offaly-girl-to-cut-long-hair-to-raise-funds-charity-in-memory-of-late-nanny.html
Through My Eyes – Poetry by Vicky Keane
December 10th, 2021
Début Poetry Collection by Irish Solicitor & Poet Offers Readers a Profound Insight into Motor Neuron Disease
Having just completed her LLM degree in UCD back in 2017, solicitor, devoted wife and loving mother Vicky McCarthy Keane received some crushing news; she had motor neuron disease (MND). MND is a terminal neurological condition that causes the patient’s muscles to gradually lose function. While some poems in Vicky’s debut collection, poems like ‘The Day it Rained All Day’, capture her emotions on that fateful day of diagnosis, others point to future possibilities and hope. For people unfamiliar with MND, the collection will provide them with a profound insight into what it feels like to suffer from the condition.
Vicky’s language is visceral and profound, rich in symbolism, allegory and imagery, often drawing on the natural landscapes of Ireland. Many MND sufferers describe how the disease makes them feel ‘trapped’ in their bodies and locked in a battle with time, and nobody articulates this better than Vicky McCarthy Keane. Many of the poems hint at a battle with fate, richly imagined in the form of a journey, while others are dappled with light and hope, with the final poem ‘Sunset Over Fanore’ hinting at a paradise regained.
Vicky credits the great Irish writer John B Keane as the main inspiration behind her decision to take up writing after her diagnosis. Having watched a documentary where John B Keane’s son, Billy Keane, discovered an old copybook owned by his father, Vicky wrote her first poem. Since that day, she has written poetry regularly through the assistance of an eye-gaze computer. The computer is the inspiration behind the collection’s title, Through My Eyes.
Billy Keane, an early champion of Vicky’s work, remarks, ‘Vicky McCarthy Keane writes pure, tender, lucid poetry of the finest kind’. While award-winning writer and filmmaker Csilla Toldy has written, ‘Vicky McCarthy Keane’s poems celebrate love and life with a wistful gratitude only someone in her condition can know’.
The book is published by JM Editing & Literary Agency, a publishing consultancy based in Ireland. The collection is available in three editions, international paperback, deluxe edition with ‘French flaps’ available here and eBook. The international paperback and eBook is available through all major online retailers, including Amazon, Barnes And Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, Google Books and more . The deluxe edition is available in some Irish independent bookstores, Irish websites like buythebook.ie, or directly from the publisher. If you would like to order a copy directly from the publisher, or you are interested in stocking Through My Eyes, please contact Jeremy Murphy of JM Agency at jm.murphy@outlook.ie
Most importantly, Vicky McCarthy Keane has requested that all her proceeds from Through My Eyes be denoted to the Irish Motor Neurone Association, IMNDA.