Fundraising walk to mark ten years since Athlone TD Nicky McFadden's death

A fundraising walk to Clonmacnoise will take place later this month to mark the tenth anniversary of the passing of Athlone politician Nicky McFadden.

Nicky served as a Fine Gael councillor and Senator before being elected to the Dáil in the Longford Westmeath constituency in 2011.

She was a TD up to the time of her death from Motor Neurone Disease, at the age of 51, on March 25, 2014.

Ten years on from her passing, her family and friends are organising a walk, from Clonbonny to Clonmacnoise, in aid of the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA).

It will take place on Easter Saturday, March 30, starting at 10am.

Nicky's sister, Gabrielle, said the walk was prompted by the fact that Nicky was herself an active walker who would often meet up with friends and go for Sunday walks in Lough Boora, Ferbane or Shannonbridge.

"We always come together, her family and friends, every year on her anniversary. But because this year is her tenth anniversary we thought we would do something to mark it," she said.

"We are going from Clonbonny to Clonmacnoise, which is about 14 kilometres, or 9 miles," she explained. "Mike (McDonnell) is then bringing us back on the Viking boat, from Clonmacnoise, at 2pm on the Saturday.

"It's really to raise a few euro for the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association, which is a phenomenal organisation for families and people with Motor Neurone Disease."

Gabrielle said many people found it hard to believe that it's now a decade since her sister's death.

"Nicky is always remembered very fondly, and people are shocked that it is already ten years since she passed."

The upcoming walk is especially poignant after the former RTÉ journalist Charlie Bird died last week following his own public battle with Motor Neurone Disease.

"It's a horrible disease. Charlie did a lot of public appearances, programmes and interviews. I couldn't watch them, to be honest with you, but I was very sorry to hear that he had passed away," said Gabrielle.

"When Charlie lost his voice, and things like that, I found it very hard because we had all of that with Nicky.

"It's so hard, especially with a person like Nicky who was so sociable, chatty, and fun-loving. And Charlie Bird was the same type of person. To see their voices being taken away from them, and their mind being there, is very cruel."

Gabrielle said the length of the walk on March 30 meant it wouldn't be for everyone, but those who couldn't take part were welcome to make a donation to the IMNDA.

An iDonate online fundraising page has been set up ahead of the walk, and at the time of writing it had already raised more than €2,500 for the charity.

Nicky's sister said the work being done by the IMNDA was hugely important and helps the relatives of the Motor Neurone patient as much as the patient themselves.

"When Nicky was alive (the IMNDA) had much fewer nurses, who were covering a much bigger area. With the money that was raised by Charlie Bird there are extra nurses being employed now, which is great.

"The nurses that they have are angels, really. They're great. We had a nurse, Fidelma, from the west of Ireland, and she was an angel to us I have to say," she commented.

A link to the iDonate fundraising page for the upcoming walk can be found here.