Offaly club to host ‘Shoulder To Shoulder’ walk in aid of Motor Neurone Disease
Croghan club St Brigid's GAA will host the ‘Shoulder To Shoulder’ walk in aid of those suffering from ALS, the most common form of Motor Neurone Disease, later this month.
Anyone who wishes to support ALS research is urged to ‘wear your jersey for your teammate’ and join the sponsored walk, which will take place on All Ireland football final day, Sunday, July 27, at 9am in St Brigid’s GAA Club, Croghan.
The fundraising page for the walk has already amassed €6,645 of its €50,000 target as of Wednesday (July 16).
The walk is being supported by Galway All Ireland winners Joe Bergin and Michael Meehan, as well as former Ireland and Leinster rugby star Rob Kearney.
“ALS is a devastating neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord,” said Joe Bergin, former Galway footballer and 2001 All-Ireland winner, who is one of the organisers of the ‘Shoulder to Shoulder’ event.
“It is the most common form of Motor Neurone Disease, which affects hundreds of people and their families around Ireland every year.”
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Pictured (from left) former Ireland rugby star Rob Kearney, 2001 All-Ireland winner Joe Bergin, neurologist and head of Research Motor Neurone (RMN) Dr Orla Hardiman, and former Galway GAA star and media presenter Michael Meehan.Image 2 of 2
At the launch of the ‘Shoulder to Shoulder’ walk in aid of Research Motor Neurone were (from left) former Ireland rugby star Rob Kearney, 2001 All-Ireland winner Joe Bergin, neurologist and head of Research Motor Neurone (RMN) Dr Orla Hardiman, and former Galway GAA star and media presenter Michael Meehan.MND is a progressive neurological condition in which the nerves that control voluntary muscles stop working. In Ireland, around 155 people are newly diagnosed with the condition every year; there are currently more than 470 people living with MND and ALS in Ireland. It is a very challenging and debilitating disease for which there is currently no cure.
“While there is not yet a cure for ALS, studies to develop more treatments and a cure for ALS are ongoing around the world and significant progress has been made in understanding how the disease works, identifying biological indicators that can help diagnose and treat the disease, and even learning ways to prevent ALS,” said Dr Orla Hardiman, Professor of Neurology at Trinity College Dublin.
“That is why we are asking as many people as possible to support the ‘Shoulder to Shoulder’ event on 27 July, either by taking part in the walk or by donating to the cause. Every cent raised will help a family to deal with this disease.”
The event is being supported by numerous high-profile Irish sporting clubs including Galway GAA, Mountbellew-Moylough GAA, Cu Chulainns GAA (London), Leinster Rugby, Connacht Rugby, Garbally College and many others.
Also supporting the cause is Claire Bird, widow of Charlie Bird, the former chief news correspondent with RTE, who was diagnosed with MND in October 2021 and who raised €3.6 million in aid of the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta before his death in March last year.
To donate to the fundraising effort, go to: https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/shouldertoshoulder