Dunshaughlin to London cycle for MND Association

A DUNSHAUGHLIN man has set out for London on bike to raise funds for the Irish Motor Neuron Disease Association,

Diarmuid Brennan is undertaking the cycle in memory of his former neighbour, Ruth Staines and in solidarity with her partner, Alisdair Anderson who is currently on an incredible 2,750km trip to Nerja, Spain to raise funds for the association.

“I'll be cycling from Dunshaughlin to Dublin Port then from Holyhead to Chester on the first day,” he says.

On Thursday, he will continue to Birmingham, on Friday to Milton Keynes and on Saturday to London.

Diarmuid explains that Ruth, who was a neighbour when he was a younger, was diagnosed with MND in May last year and died in April.

“Alisdair showed the utmost care, compassion and dedication during the last year of Ruth's life,” he said.

“Everything raised on the cycle goes directly to IMNDA which provides necessary home care nursing, equipment, and counselling for those living with Motor Neurone Disease.

“I've never taken on anything like this before but I'm really looking forward to the challenge,” he said.

Diarmuid, who is a member of the band, The Murder Capital, says he did some cycling when he lived in New York a few years ago and during lockdown he started doing laps of the 5km radius around his home.

“I kept it up and as I am moving to London for a few weeks in July, I decided this would be an opportunity to raise funds.”

When Ruth was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease roughly a year ago, in May 2020, nobody could have foreseen how fast the disease would affect her independence.

MND is a neurological disease that impacts the nerves which enable movement of muscles. It presents challenges to completing some of life's most simple tasks that you might do every day with your hands, feet, legs.

The Irish Motor Neuron Disease Association provides care and support to people with MND, their families, friends and carers.

Donations can be made to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Ruth-Staines