My limbs are being affected by my illness – that’s the harsh reality but I’ll keep fighting, says Charlie Bird
CHARLIE Bird has admitted that his limbs are beginning to be affected by his illness - despite some people thinking he is doing well after spotting him out walking.
The RTE veteran opened up about the "harsh reality" of his battle with Motor Neurone Disease yesterday.
Taking to Twitter, Charlie, who was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease last October, issued a major health update and urged his followers to extend their hand of friendship to the Samaritans charity.
The former broadcaster has been working alongside the charity in a bid to raise more awareness of the important work they do across Ireland.
In a video where he joked that his beloved dog Tiger is "on strike" until he is paid to be a wingman, Charlie said: "As you know, my next project is to raise more awareness for Samaritans. I am not feeling great at present, but I really do want to work as hard as possible to raise awareness for them.
"The Samaritan volunteers provide a great listening service to people who might be, in what I call, a ‘dark place’ and they do so without any judgement.
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"I would love if everyone who supported Climb With Charlie would get this message out loud and clear.
"As long as I am alive, I want to continue to extend the hand of friendship."
On November 18, Charlie will be in Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre from 11am with Samaritans to meet the public at an old-style telephone box which was designed especially for the branch.
After Climb With Charlie - which raised over €3million for charities such as Pieta House - he wanted to support other good causes.
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Asking his supporters to pass on his message to others, he added: "Hopefully this campaign will raise money for them, but the real purpose is to raise awareness to spread the word about the great job these volunteers do around the country 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.
"Finally, please please everyone extend the hand of friendship. The kindness everyone has shown me has given me the purpose to keep battling on and to extend the hand of friendship.
"Thank you so much and remember the real heroes of climb with Charlie are the people who took part at home and abroad."
Although Charlie admitted he is struggling with the "harsh" illness, he said: "Some incredible force is helping me to keep fighting on. And extending the hand of friendship is my goal."
