Kildorrery group assist with IMNDA fundraiser
Local man Jer Spillane and the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association need your help. Jer, who is a native of Kildorrery and now lives in Kilbehenny, was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease back in November 2019.
Since Jer’s diagnosis, a number of fundraising events have been held for the Spillane family, to assist them in their hour of need. Many more events were planned, but unfortunately had to be cancelled due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The family are extremely grateful to all the different communities that have helped them to date by organising and supporting events.
Much has changed for Jer and his family due to the progression of his illness since the lockdown. Married to Jackie, they have two children Noah and Faye and the family are, at the moment, trying to secure a wheelchair accessible vehicle, as Jer is now using an electric wheelchair, which has been kindly donated by the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA). Their existing car cannot facilitate Jer’s new electric wheelchair, so a new vehicle is necessary in order for him to attend his many medical appointments.
To help secure a suitable replacement car, his friends have been in contact with the IMNDA and a fundraising event has been organised to run during the month of February, in conjunction with the organisation’s own fundraising event - the donations being divided equally.
The IMNDA campaign is a sponsored silence - Voice4Mind - for a minimum of 30 minutes, so participants can experience what it would be like to lose your voice. Imagine one hour, imagine one day, imagine one week without your voice. By giving up your voice, you can experience what it is like for someone with Motor Neurone Disease.
DONATIONS APPRECIATED
A GoFundMe page has been set up and can be found online (visit www.GoFundMe.ie and search for ‘Jer Spillane IMNDA’). The organisers are asking members of the public to donate what they can afford and perhaps ‘share’ the page to spread awareness. At the time of going to press, over €2,500 of the €15k target had been reached!
There will also be a donation bucket in The Favourite, Mitchelstown and in both Thornhill’s and the Post Office in Kildorrery, for which the organisers are very appreciative of. The GoFundMe appeal will run until the middle of March.
The sponsored silence can be undertaken anytime from the comfort of your own home or you can to join virtually at 5pm on Sunday, February 28th.
Your support for this very worthy cause would be much appreciated by Jer and his family. Anyone with queries can contact organisers Eamonn McCarthy (087) 9267156 or Siobhan O’Donnell (086) 1009014.