In the past Drink Tea for MND was held during the month of June but this year it has moved to March.

TEA TIME: Christy Lehane Chairman of Kerry Friends of Motor Neurone will Drink Tea for MND during the month of March.

There is no special day to hold the event during the month of March for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) so you can host an event any time.

It has proved to be one of the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association's (IMNDA) most popular event of the year.

"Since 2018 the IMNDA has hosted the very popular Drink Tea initiative for MND and in doing so has raised the phenomenal sum of €941,654.74 - so this year the Association has high hopes of reaching the €1 million mark," Christy Lehane, Chairman of Kerry Friends of Motor Neurone, said.

This year's Ambassador is Chinese woman Lily Chen in Termonfeckin County Louth where she lives with her family and runs a tea business, Lily’s Tea.

"Lily was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease three years ago. I urge you to read Lily Chen’s incredible story on the IMNDA website where she describes MND heartbreakingly as “an invisible hand turning down my power gradually". It is titled 'Living with MND - Lily Chen'.

As IMNDA CEO Lilian McGovern puts it well when she said that MND is such an unforgiving disease, but with your support for Drink Tea for MND will help people like Lily get the simple, life-changing supports they need, including specialised beds, air mattresses and comfort wheelchairs and for some communication aids for people deprived of their speaking voices, he added.

"I have decided this year that the supporting photograph with this article will be Lily Chen Drinking Tea for MND."

SUPPORT

IMNDA now employs six specialist nurses nationwide providing services for MND sufferers, their families and the need for fundraising is even greater.

"I will Drink Tea for MND again this year. Will you host a Drink Tea for MND during the month of March? In doing so you are supporting everyone impacted with MND. The need for fundraising is now even greater. Over 85% of IMNDA services are funded by events like Drink Tea for MND.

If you cannot organise a tea day, all is not lost. You can text 50300 and donate €2."

For more details go to the IMNDA website www.imnda.ie where you can register and fundraise online.

You can contact head office on 01 6703552 to order tea packs for your tea day or for any other advice.

"Finally on behalf of Kerry Friends of Motor Neurone I again say thanks all our loyal friends and supporters who have never left us down in the past and hopefully this year’s event will be your cup of tea."

You can donate to www.imnda.ie or if you want to contact with me, that’s ok too.