Mayo community radio station to host special programme in conjunction with Charlie Bird fundraiser

By Stuart Tynan

Former RTÉ news reporter Charlie Bird captured the hearts of a nation when he spoke recently about his battle with motor neurone disease, which he made public in October last year.

Earlier this month, he told Late Late Show presenter Ryan Tubridy of his plans to lead a group of climbers to Croagh Patrick on Saturday, April 2 (under the banner Climb with Charlie) to raise money for the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta House charities, and to send a message of encouragement to anyone coping with a terminal illness

In conjunction with this climb, a special broadcast by Castlebar community radio station CRCfm will take place on the same day as the climb at Guiney’s store in Castlebar from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., which will raise funds on the day for Charlie’s nominated charities.

For the climb, Guiney’s have made a €5,000 donation to Charlie’s fundraiser.

Local musician Michael Oliver Sheridan and Belmullet native Chantelle Padden, who appeared on popular UK reality music show The Voice, are among the guests along with comedian Frank Forde, with more to be confirmed in due course.

“It’s to make people aware of motor neurone and that it can happen to anybody,” Jimmy Blake, organiser and CRCfm presenter, told The Connaught Telegraph. “We have the full support of CRCfm and Guiney’s. We’ll make a day of it and hopefully a lot of people will get involved.”

You can donate to Climb for Charlie at https://www.climbwithcharlie.ie/.

All funds raised will go to the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta.