Athlone man with MND to take part in sponsored silence fundraiser

An Athlone man with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is backing a Sponsored Silence fundraiser in a bid to raise awareness of the disease that leaves 80% of sufferers with some sort of speech difficulty during their illness, some of whom will lose their voice completely.

Originally from Scotland, Michael Harte (64) first noticed something was wrong in 2019 after waking up several nights with a bad cramp in his right leg. Unfortunately, this was the beginning of a nightmare round of medical appointments and investigations.

His symptoms worsened in early 2020 to the point that he ended up in ICU in Ballinasloe where he was told it was a virus of some sort. However, his mobility continued to worsen in the months afterwards, and in November of 2020 he eventually got the devastating diagnosis of MND.

Motor Neurone Disease is a rare, rapid and fatal disease affecting the nerve cells which control voluntary muscles in the body. Life expectancy is two to three years and there is no known cure. Poignantly, Michael also lost his sister Tess some years ago to MND.

Now, the Athlone resident is participating in a Sponsored Silence fundraiser run by the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA) in a bid to raise awareness of MND which will be difficult as he loves to talk!

“Talking tires me out, but this is because of my breathing. I get short of breath easily and need a machine to help me. When people visit me I keep my speaking time short. I then use a breathing machine and if they are still there by the time I finish recharging, I continue on talking! Anyone that knows me knows I always have loads to say! My voice is my identity,” says Michael.

He, along with his wife Maeve, who is his full-time carer, is asking others to join the IMNDA in their sponsored silence campaign #Voice4MND in February by giving up your voice for 30 minutes so that you can experience what it's like for someone living with MND.

He has been on MND clinical trials for the past year at Beaumont Hospital, St James Hospital and Trinity College, which he says may help him or others in the future.

While he has many limitations – he has to use a wheelchair – and has a machine to help him breathe - Mike or Jock as he is also known, can still drive, and he says it's all about taking one day at a time. Life is too short to be in a rush, he points out.

To sign up for our Sponsored Silence all you have to do is visit www.imnda.ie and fill out the online registration form. It’s that simple! Spread awareness by sharing your sponsored silence on social media by using #Voice4MND. Nominate friends and families to join you.