Walk for IMNDA and Offaly Homelessness

September 14th, 2021

The project is the brainchild of former Offaly footballer Paddy Fenning, an All-Ireland winner in 1971 and ’72 who is also a well-known activist in Tullamore and beyond.
Sadly, Paddy was diagnosed with MND in 2019 and succumbed to his illness in May 2020.

The 5km walk has been fixed for Sunday, September 26 – the 50th anniversary of Offaly’s first All-Ireland win in 1971 in which Paddy featured – and will take place along the banks of the Grand Canal in Tullamore. More information can be found on the event Facebook page.

Donations can be made online and will also be accepted, along with sponsorship cards, by any member of the committee, including chairman Joe Stewart (0872600175), treasurer Pat Marron (0868157271), assistant treasurer Jimmy Feery, secretary Mary Roche and PRO Pat Nolan.

You can read the widely acclaimed interview with Paddy by award-wining sportswriter Vincent Hogan which appeared in the Irish Independent on January 11 here: https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/ive-accepted-it-like-why-not-me-why-should-it-be-somebody-else-offaly-legend-opens-up-on-life-changing-illness-38852475.html

The walk has been inspired by the late Fr Tony Coote’s hugely successful ‘Walk While You Can’ initiative. Fr Coote, who was the parish priest in Mount Merrion, Dublin and an MND sufferer, died in 2019 having raised in excess of €600,000 for MND causes.

Paddy wished to share these words:

“The service that the IMNDA provide is funded completely by public donations and this initiative is an effort on my behalf and that of my team to help provide a greater range of support to approximately 400 people who suffer from the disease in Ireland.

“It is my hope that the monies raised across all our fundraising efforts can help offset the impact of motor neurone disease, while hastening the search for a cure, as well lessening the impact the current homeless crisis has in this country.” PADDY FENNING 1024x576

Categories: Upcoming Events