Appeal to people in Louth to 'Drink Tea for MND' this March

The Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA) has made an appeal to people in Louth to get involved in its upcoming fundraiser and awareness campaign this March to raise awareness of Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

IMDA is looking for support by asking people around the county to organise tea events in their local community, and to "Drink Tea for MND" this March. 

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. It can affect how you walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe. However, not all symptoms necessarily happen to everyone, and according to IMNDA, it is unlikely they will all develop at the same time, or in any specific order.

Lily Chen is this year’s Drink Tea for MND Ambassador. She lives in Termonfeckin in Co Louth with her family where she runs her tea business, Lily’s Tea. She was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) three years ago.

Lily Chen’s first encounter with MND was over 30 years previous, when as a teenager, she read about Prof Stephen Hawking’s “weird” disease. She thought that it was so rare that it must only happen to geniuses like him. In 2016, she noticed her left arm could not lift the cooking pot. Later, she noted her voice slurring and occasionally when out running she stumbled and fell a few times.  

“All the natural abilities I took for granted such as swallowing, speech and mobility started weakening, like an invisible hand that is turning down my power,” said Lily.  

Lily shares her story about life with MND in the hope that greater awareness will generate increased support for those living with this degenerative and debilitating condition. “Communication is getting difficult; I miss Irish banter. Small things like giving away all my high heel shoes are heart-breaking”, said Lily. 

IMNDA says that MND is an unforgivable disease, but people's support for Drink Tea for MND will help people like Lily get the simple life changing supports they need.  It will provide specialised beds, wheelchairs, and for people like Lily who love the "Irish banter", communication aids when MND takes their voice away.

There are more than 400 people living with MND in Ireland, and every three days another person is lost to this debilitating disease.

So IMNDA are saying, "please, join Lily and all of us – any day during March – in raising a teacup in support of everyone impacted by MND". It couldn’t be easier to host your own Drink Tea event, you can even do all your fundraising online – just visit imnda.ie for more. 

“So here I am, raising the teacup with a small bit of hope and loads of love. Let’s all Drink Tea for MND,” said Lily. If you can’t organise a tea day, why not make a tea donation, just text MND to 50300 and donate €2. (Some network providers charge VAT, meaning a minimum of €1.63 will go to IMNDA. Service Provider LIKECHARITY 0766805278)

The power of the Louth public's support also funds IMNDA's six wonderful MND nurses who visit families in their homes providing expert care and advice. In fact, over 85% of IMNDA's services are funded by events like Drink Tea for MND. See www.imnda.ie for more.