On Tuesday February 15th 2011 the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association hosted an open meeting in Killarney.
Consultant Neurologist Dr. Helena Moore addressed the meeting speaking about Motor Neurone and the way it affects people who are suffering from the disease.
Also in attendance were people recently diagnose d with Motor Neurone Disease and their carers.
One of those present was Mr John Reidy who was diagnosed in 2010 with Motor Neurone Disease. On the inspirationof John Reidy it was decided to do fundraising for the IMNDA. As a result of this meeting the Kerry Friends of Motor Neurone was formed.
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A meeting took place on May 11th 2011 to launch a sponsored family walk / run fun day around the Lissivigeen loop on Sunday June 26th 2011 to raise much needed funds.
On a beautiful day on 26th June 2011 over 400 people walked the Lissivigeen loop and enjoyed great music provided all afternoon by many local bands. I think its fair to say there was something there for everyone young and old alike. Many stalls were set up selling such things as food items, books, clothing and even pre loved handbags to name but a few. The men were busy testing out their skills for accuracy casting the horseshoe while others took up the challenge of taking on the tug of war champions from Barraduff. Above all it was a great getting together of all the neighbours and the travelling folk from far and wide to participate in a sponsored walk run for Motor Neurone. The very capable Ray O’Sullivan was the master of cermonies for the day. The Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association were represented by Mr Larry Joyce and local Killarney priest Fr Kevin McNamara blessed everybody before the walk begun.
We very much appreciated the presence of many of the local media reporters who joined us for the afternoon thus giving us the one thing we very much needed that being awareness of Motor Neurone Disease. Up until now many of us myself included did not know a lot about the disease but all this was about to change. The fruits of all this fun day at Darby O’Gills House Hotel resulted in the presenting of a cheque for €45,000 to the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association on 19th July 2011. See events page for presentation.
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In June 2012 Kerry Friends of Motor Neurone organised a High Nelly Cycle around the Lissivigeen Loop but the one stipulation was that all participants must dress in in 1950’s period dress and this exercise raised a whopping €18,000 which was presented to the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association on the 4th October 2012. Go to the events page to sample the style and read article by Examiner reporter Donal Hickey titled ..Get on yer old bike.
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During 2012 and 2013 many GAA clubs, Gun clubs, Golf Classic, National Schools, Dept of Justice Social Club,car rally day in Aghadoe and Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle Committee made cheque presentations to Kerry Friends of Motor Neurone.
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In 2014 Kerry Friends of Motor Neurone were delighted to be selected as a beneficiary of the Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle enabling us to raise a considerable amount of money and awareness. This was huge for us as our base was now much much bigger. To say it was a success would be a n understatement even the Taoiseach Enda Kenny got up on his bike to cycle the ring of Kerry for Kerry Friends of Motor Neurone and even the Cork Senior hurlers and manager Jimmy Barry Murphy were supporting our charity. See event page for photos and videos.
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Early in 2014 some members of our committee had the privilege of spending a evening in the home of Emma Fitzpatrick in Kinsale Co. Cork. Emma a Motor Neurone sufferer was in the final stages of her Motor Neurone journey showed us the workings of her Tobii Eye Gaze Device and demonstrated for us how to send a email using only her eyes. Irish Examiner reporter Donal Hickey was there to record all with Emma. I have to confess that it was hard to watch Emma’s disabled body along with a very active mind trying to converse with us all. When we returned home from that visit we were overwhelmed to receive a beautiful email thanking us for calling to see her and wishing us all the best for our Ring of Kerry Charity cycle in July all sent from poor declining Emma. It was very nice also to meet Emma’s husband Jonny, and children Rowan and Kitty. See under Events…Donal Hickey’s report Titled New technology for those living with Motor Neurone Disease. Also article by Andy McGovern a Motor Neurone sufferer of over 40years
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Euro bridge Club President Phil Lynch presented a cheque to Kerry Friends and later on in August Liam Lynch and family and Batt Burns and his family held a concert in the Gleneagle Hotel. It was a fantastic night of music song and dance from two very musical families and the M.C. for the night was the storyteller himself Batt Burns himself. I might mention here that both families had recently lost loved ones to Motor Neurone Disease.
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Next about this time also came the Ice Bucket Challenge and everybody was getting drenched in ice cold water and to think that all the proceeds were being donated to the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association. Again many many schools and clubs too many to mention here participated in the challenge and in October 2014 IMNDA Regional Development Officer Marie Reavey announced that €1.6 Million was raised from the Ice Bucket Challenge. Many thanks to all who organised and participated in our local events raising serious monies. To finish off 2014 Tralee Rotary Club held a flag day in Tralee Town with all proceeds being donated to Kerry Friends of Motor Neurone. Go to events page for photos etc.
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In February 2015 saw family of popular Tralee man Tommy Brosnan make plans to hold a Gala Ball in his memory and all proceeds going to the IMNDA. Tommy who was a Motor Neuron sufferer had recently passed away. The Gala Ball took place in Ballygarry House Hotel on 27th April 2015 and was a huge success and a cheque presentation was made to the IMNDA on 1st July 2015. Around this time also Churchill Drama Group also made a presentation to the IMNDA.
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About this time also Fiddleheads traditional music group released their new cd in the Gleneagle Hotel with some of the proceeds going to Kerry Friends of Motor Neurone. Also thanks to Martina Griffin Tesco store New St Killarney for organising in store fundraising for Kerry Friends of Motor Neurone. Also thanks to Tralee Flower and Garden Club, Marks and Spencer store in Killarney and to Sarah Walsh in Listowel in memory of the late Kieran Gleeson all presented cheques. Please see events page.
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Finally in September 2015 President Michael D.Higgins and his wife Sabina extended a invitation to the IMNDA and to Motor Neurone and their carers etc. to visit them for a few hours at Aras an Uachtaran. This also gave a great opportunity to meet some Motor Neurone sufferers and IMNDA Head Office staff. See events page
In 2016 Kerry Friends of Motor Neurone assisted with stewarding for the popular Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle. Thanks to all who helped out.Thanks to Tesco Store Deerpark Killarney and finally to Cahirciveen who held a tractor run in memory of the late Sean O’Se with proceeds going to the IMNDA.
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In 2017 Peggy Kelleher and family organised ceili dance in Tousist for Motor Neurone Disease Kerry Friends organised a flag day collection at both Daly’s Super Valu store and at Tesco Store D.eerpark Killarney. Thanks to all who helped us out. Thanks to Brendan Kenny and Teddy Reynolds of Tralee Lions Club for cheque presentation of €2000 to Kerry Friends of Motor Neurone and finally the Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle presented a cheque to us for €2000. Kerry Friends of Motor Neurone made a cheque presentation €38,708 to the IMNDA which was the proceeds of many fundraising events and many many donations received since 2014.
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In early 2018 Motor Neurone Sufferer John O’Donoghue and Family presented a huge cheque to the IMNDA being the result of a Reindeer run in the following areas Cahirdaniel Co. Kerry, Co. Clare run and finally in Killarney National Park all held on 23rd December 2017. Thanks to everybody who helped out. See events page
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On the 13th February Killarney Soroptimist President Emir Moynihan presented a cheque to Kerry Friends of Motor Neurone. Many thanks to Emir and her Committee for selecting Kerry Friends of Motor Neurone as a beneficiary this year.
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Kerry Friends of Motor Neurone accepted an invitation from the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association to join them for an informal evening to meet and greet office staff and management at the Russell Court Hotel Dublin.
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On 13th June 2018 Elisabeth , Peggy and D J Kelleher from Kilgarvan presented a cheque for €2150 to Christy Lehane on behalf of the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association in the Castle Heights Hotel Killarney being the proceeds of a ceili held in Fossa. See events page for more details.
Kerry Friends of Motor Neurone held their annual flag day inKillarney town on 22nd June 2018 this being International ALS / Motor Neurone week and it turned out to be a huge success raising €3397.30. Thanks to everybody who who supported us so generously on that beautiful sunny day. A special thanks to all who volunteered to help us with the flag day , it was very much appreciated.
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Teresa Gleeson and Family from Listowel presented a cheque to the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association proceeds of a film screened in the Classic Cinema in Listowel about the life and times of Teresa’s late husband Kieran who passed away from Motor Neurone Disease in 2016. The film made by Athea man Ed O’Connor. Christy Lehane accepted the cheque on behalf of the IMNDA.
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Tralee Lions Club raised almost 40,000 euros from their annual charity golf classic held earlier this year for their chosen charities. Kerry Friends of Motor Neurone were delighted to be selected as one of the beneficiaries again this year. Many thanks to Teddy Reynolds and his hard working committee.
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Attended the Annual Conference of the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association held Whites Clayton Hotel Wexford Town on Friday 7th September 2018. See under events page for more information.
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Rathmore girls Kay ‘O Keeffe, Nora O’Connor, Shirley Nagle, Grainne Lynch and Sheila Casey organised a very successful coffee morning in Cahills Bar Rathmore on 29th September 2018 for Kerry Friends of Motor Neurone and they were not finished there next on their list was a 100ft drop from the roof of Croke Park on the 13th October 2018 for Motor Neurone. A huge thanks ladies from all at Kerry Friends of Motor Neurone. The good news is that the girls raised a staggering €7,211 from the two events. Absolutely fantastic
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On 19th December 2018 Peggy and Elizabeth Kelleher present a cheque for €730.00 to Christy Lehane Chairman of Kerry Friends of Motor Neurone. This was the proceeds of a ceili held by T.J.Nelligan in An Riocht Athletic Club Castleisland.
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On the 9th January 2019 Rathmore girls make a Cheque presentation of €7211.00 the proceeds of a coffee morning and an abseil in Croke Park for Motor Neurone Disease Association.
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On the 12th January 2019 Peggy and Elizabeth Kelleher presented a cheque for €1000.00 to Christy Lehane Chairman of Kerry Friends of Motor Neurone the proceeds of a vintage day held by Ballinagree Vintage Club.
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On 6th February 2019 Sean Daly and Sons make a presentation to Christy Lehane the proceeds of a Christmas charity office collection to aid Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association.
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On 20th February 2019 Kerry Friends of Motor Neurone made a cheque presentation of €26,500.00 to the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association in the Plaza Hotel Killarney. This was the proceeds of many donations and cheque presentations made to Kerry Friends during the past year.
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On 22nd April 2019 at the Killarney Oaks Hotel Rathmore man John O’Neill and his extended family made a cheque presentation of €1,650.00 to Christy Lehane on behalf of the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association. This money was donated in lieu of flowers at the funeral of his beloved wife Bridie who passed away from Motor Neurone Disease on the 7th November 2018
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20th June 2019
Thanks to Tralee Rotary Club president Mr Sean Coote and club members Teddy Reynolds and Pat Crean for selecting Kerry Friends of Motor Neurone as one of the beneficiary again this year and presenting us with a cheque from their annual Golf Classic to support various charities.
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11th July 2019
Many thanks to all who contributed so generously to our annual flag day collection held in Killarney town on Friday 21st June which is the International ALS / MND day. Thanks to all our loyal collectors who never let us down.
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6th September 2019
We thank the grandchildren of the late Mrs Bridie O’Neill who donated the proceeds of their annual play which this year was titled”THIS IS NOT A CINDERELLA STORY” to Kerry Friends of Motor Neurone
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