Over €3 million 'Climb with Charlie' proceeds handed over to two charities
Legendary broadcaster, Charlie Bird, handed over two cheques for €1,688,000 each to the Irish Motor Neurone Association and suicide charity, Pieta, this morning (Tuesday), as a result of his unprecedented Climb with Charlie fundraising campaign.
During an emotional handover ceremony in Merrion Square, which was attended by Defence Forces Chief of Staff, Sean Clancy, the Army Band 2 Brigade, led by conducter Captain Tom Kelly and broadcaster Joe Duffy, Charlie Bird handed over the total proceeds of over €3 million to Lillian McGovern, Chief Executive of the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Stephanie Manahan, Chief Executive of Pieta.
Climb With Charlie was an initiative set up by Charlie Bird following his terminal diagnosis of motor neurone disease in November 2021 to help and show support for everyone who has to climb their own physical and mental mountains in their daily lives.
His initial plan was to climb Croagh Patrick on April 2 last with some close friends and family, but the campaign immediately caught the Irish public’s imagination. Along with several thousand people taking part in the Croagh Patrick climb, tens of thousands of people also took part in almost two hundred separate Climb with Charlie fundraisers across Ireland, the US, South Africa, Australia and Spain.
Hundreds of people attended designated climbs at locations right across the Midlands as the Climb with Charlie campaign began to gather pace and captured the imagination of young and old alike.
Commenting on the success of the Climb with Charlie campaign, Charlie Bird said; “I am truly humbled and inspired that so many thousands of people took part in Climb with Charlie events across the world. I want to thank people all across the country for their incredible support throughout this journey. All of the generous donations will go to the two charities which are so close to my heart. It is an amazing gesture of support for me and my family.”
Charlie went on to say; “The support of so many wonderful people and organisations throughout the campaign was a great example of people extending the hand of friendship, and I would like to thank them from the bottom of my heart. I would also like to particularly thank the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána, Mayo Mountain Rescue, the Order of Malta and all our local volunteers for making our climb possible.”