Friends of a man diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) have launched a fundraising appeal to help him remain living in his Cork home as the illness progresses.
Pat ‘Bosco’ Roche, aged 55, initially thought he was suffering with long Covid when he noticed his health start to deteriorate.
But when his right hand grew weak and he had problems with his voice he went for testing and was diagnosed with MND in September 2023.
The fundraiser aims to raise money to adapt Mr Roche’s home in Fermoy, Co Cork to cater for his mobility needs as the neurological condition progresses.
The work includes installing a lift in the property, special ramps by the front and back doors and ensuring all interior doors are fully wheelchair accessible.
All funds raised over the target figure will be donated to the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA).
“I hadn’t felt well for a while,” he said.
“But I initially thought it was long Covid. Then I noticed a weakness in my right hand and problems with my voice. It kept getting worse and I went to a friend who is a doctor and they advised me to go for a specialist examination.”
MND is difficult to diagnose in its early stages – often presenting as fatigue or other neurological conditions.
“I knew something was wrong. I told one doctor that I thought it was either Parkinson’s Disease or MND.”
The doctor later told Pat that he was correct – he had MND.
MND is a rare condition that affects the brain and nerves and causes weakness that progressively gets worse over time.
The condition occurs when specialist nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, called motor neurones, stop working properly and die prematurely. This is known as neurodegeneration.
Motor neurones control muscle activity like gripping, walking, speaking, swallowing and breathing.
As MND becomes more advanced, more parts and functions of the body are affected. This can make it more likely to experience infections, like chest infections, which can cause the condition to get worse more quickly.
There is currently no cure for MND but there are treatments to help reduce the impact it has on a person’s daily life.
“It has been a journey,” Mr Roche said.
“The IMNDA have been absolutely incredible in the support they have provided. A nurse comes to see me regularly and they have been fantastic in terms of information and advice.”
Mr Roche is one of just four patients in Ireland who are taking part in a medicines trial being run through Professor Orla Hardiman and her team at Beaumont Hospital.
“Charlie Bird did an incredible amount of work to raise public awareness of MND. Almost everyone now knows about the disease.”
Like the late RTÉ journalist, the disease has impacted Mr Roche’s speech – and he now increasingly relies on a special app on his phone which allows him to type out messages, with the audio then delivered in his own voice.
After his initial diagnosis, Mr Roche assisted with fundraisers in conjunction with Fermoy GAA, Fermoy soccer club and MIG which raised over €10,000 for the IMNDA.
Now, he wants to be able to stay in his own home for as long as possible – with the home adaptations crucial to achieving that wish.
“It is my home – and this is where I want to be,” Mr Roche said.
“I have been very lucky with my circle of friends and they have been fantastic with the support they have shown me. It hasn’t been easy over the past year but it means so much to see people wanting to be there for you.”
The online appeal fund is being supported by a number of special events around Cork including a music bingo event in The Wagon Tavern in Fermoy on Friday, November 1 and a walkathon at St Colman’s recreation pitch on Saturday, November 9 followed by a sing-song in The Cross bar at 8pm.
To donate to Pat’s cause, click here
