URGENT APPEAL TO HELP BENNY
KILCOOLE MAN Benny Taglienti has been forced to sleep in a recliner chair for months, due to the limitations of motor neurone disease (MND).
Now, Benny’s family and friends are appealing for help to finance works to the house that will make life easier and more comfortable.
Benny is unable get upstairs and so hasn’t been able to sleep in a bed, with a fall from the chair lift limiting him further. He can’t shower so has only been able to have someone sponge-wash him.
The council has granted money for the alterations, but not all of it, and funding for the works must be paid for up front.
The total cost of the project is around €50,000.
KILCOOLE MAN Benny Taglienti has been forced to sleep in a recliner chair for months, due to the limitations of motor neurone disease (MND).
Now, Benny’s family and friends are appealing for help to finance works to the house that will make life easier and more comfortable.
Benny is unable get upstairs and so hasn’t been able to sleep in a bed, with a fall from the chair lift limiting him further. He can’t shower so has only been able to have someone sponge-wash him.
The council has granted money for the alterations, but not all of it, and funding for the works must be paid for up front.
The total cost of the project is around €50,000.
Benny got the diagnosis of MND in August of 2017, when he lost motion in one finger of each hand.
‘One day he just couldn’t button his shirt,’ said his daughter Sabrina. Now he is fully wheelchair-bound.
The financial burden the family is facing is making a difficult time even worse.
The grant and money raised will provide an adapted ground floor room with an en-suite and wet room as well as disabled shower, and a proper bed that moves up and down.
Benny lives in The Bentley with his wife Carol. One daughter, Lisa, is living in Canada while the other two, Sabrina and Nadia, are at home. New mum Sabrina is also her dad’s carer during the days.
Carol works as a home help and also cares for Benny.
Prior to his illness, Benny was working in security. He was also one of the owners of Jokers in Greystones for years. His brother now remains as owner.
‘It’s been a big change in a year, but he’s very strong,’ said Sabrina. She said that Benny is in good form and everyone is managing well.
‘Dad knows everyone in Greystones,’ said Sabrina. ‘He was also a biker with East Coast Riders.’
As well as a gofundme.com page, plans are under way to organise a coffee morning, bag packing and other events.
Benny really wants to stay at home and be with his family, as well as his dogs.
To make a donation to the fundraising campaign, search for Benny’s Housing Adaptation on gofundme.com.