Following on from the success of Fr. Tony Coote's phenomenal Walk While You Can campaign in 2018 and to mark the 1st anniversary of his passing on 28th August we are asking you to join us and Walk While You Can.

It is imperative for us to keep our MND Community safe and with this in mind our Walk While You Can 5k event in the Phoenix Park won't be going ahead this September as planned.

However you can still help us get through what continues to be a very challenging time for people living with Motor Neurone Disease.

80% of people with MND, including Fr. Tony, lose their speech but a communication aid like an iPad can become their voice. Supplying an iPad, with a specialised communication app, enables people with MND to continue to speak to the people they love as well as communicate with the outside world. It means we, the IMNDA, can reach out to them, keep them informed of any changes in our services and update them on the latest developments regarding MND and Covid-19. It also allows them to attend virtual clinics and keep in contact with our four essential outreach nurses.

Currently, we can't all walk together but we are still in this together and together we can continue to make a difference.

So what can you do?

Walk 5k this autumn!

Pick your date and plan your route. The route might have special meaning to you if you knew Fr Tony or it's just your favourite local walk.

Invite family, friends and your local community to join you. (Please adhere to all current government regulations on social distancing and numbers allowed at mass gatherings https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/acc4de-easing-the-covid-19-restrictions-on-10-august-phase-4/).

Set up your Just Giving Fundraising page which will automatically be linked to our overall Walk While You Can campaign. Just click on the orange Start Fundraising button at the top right on this page. Personalise your page or use the info that is there.

Help us keep the momentum going by sharing your page amongst your network of friends and family.

Please post your photos, your route map, your page URL - whatever might help to spread the word - using the hashtag #walkwhileyoucan across social media.

Of course you don't have to walk and fundraise to support Walk While You Can. You can make a donation to the cause right here, just click the blue Donate button at the top right on this page.

Thank you for making a difference.