Paddy Conaghan, 83, from Donegal has started off his 2024 by taking on an incredible challenge for Irish Motor Neurone Disease (MND). The challenge should take Paddy 6 weeks to complete.
Mr Conaghan is not shy to taking on some tough challenges in aid of a deserving charity. This is his third consecutive year taking on this challenge for different charities, and this year, all funds raised will go towards people living with MND and their families.
Mr Conaghan began the challenge on Sunday, January 7 at Loch Eamhnaigh on Arranmore Island, followed by Lough Gill in Co Leitrim for day two, coinciding with his 83rd birthday!
We spoke to Paddy recently to see how he was getting on with his challenge. “IMNDA are a fantastic charity and do amazing work. They get very little support from the government & rely on 85% of their money coming from donations. They have 6 nurses for the whole of Ireland (+450 patients) & the money IMNDA get from fundraising pays their wages. Every two days someone gets diagnosed with this horrible disease”. Paddy goes on to explain how he is finding this journey so far, “I am enjoying my trip around the lakes, taking in all the beautiful scenery along the way, meeting old friends & making new ones. I am doing nothing at home so why not get out & do something worth while, it’s like a holiday”.
Mr Conaghan has invited all his supporters to join him at various lakes across the country to cheer him on as he takes the cold plunge. If you would like to cheer Paddy on, or join him in the lakes, you can follow his Facebook page , alternatively help Paddy raise funds for Motor Neurone Disease by donating on his iDonate page, Ducking and Driving around the lakes of Ireland for IMNDA.
