Cavan called on to take 5km challenge for MND
Claire Byrne, Broadcaster with RTE is this year’s Walk While You Can Ambassador
When the remarkable Fr. Tony Coote did his extraordinary walk four years ago from Donegal to Cork – some 550 kilometres – he raised €600,000 for Motor Neurone Disease.
From these miraculous funds, IMNDA were able to hire a much needed fourth outreach nurse to care and support people living with Motor Neurone Disease in Ireland. This has been invaluable, allowing IMNDA’s nursing team to reach more people in the community more often.
The outreach nursing service provided by the IMNDA helps over 400 people and families spread across 26 counties. This is the only service of its kind in the country and it is funded entirely from public donations.
IMNDA are now calling on locals to get walking together once more and honour Fr. Tony’s incredible achievement, and in turn help hundreds of people nationwide affected by this cruel and debilitating disease.
Claire Byrne, Broadcaster with RTE and this year’s Walk While You Can Ambassador will be joining in and asking you to get involved. Her personal friendship with Fr. Tony means she is continuing his fight.
“I will be walking on September 10th September to remember Fr Tony Coote. Will you join me and walk in your community? Walk while you can, where you can! Your support means vital funds will be raised to provide people who have MND with the crucial support and care that they and their families need and deserve. I’ll be doing my bit and walking on September 10th. Together we can make a difference!”
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 first symptoms. 1 person dies every 3 days from MND.
Lillian McGovern, CEO of IMNDA says ‘The funds raised from While You Can by all the incredible people involved, helps us to sustain our nursing service and grow our outreach care further. It’s so important to keep people in their own homes. They need the care and support of their close family and friends, and they need to remain active in their community.
Our outreach nursing service, along with our other key supports, enables us to do this. And that’s why we desperately need you to join us this September in your communities, so we can raise the crucial funds needed to continue caring and supporting our MND community.
All the information you need can be found on www.imnda.ie