Local woman’s skydive to raise awareness of her late Dad’s rare condition

Rebecca Duddy (20) from Coosan will take the ultimate plunge by doing a skydive to fundraise for the MSA (Multiple System Atrophy) Trust in memory of her late father Mickey Duddy.

Mickey passed away on St Patrick's Day, 2022 after battling Multiple System Atrophy, a rare condition of the nervous system that causes gradual damage to nerve cells in the brain. It affects balance, movement and the autonomic nervous system.

Rebecca said that she always wanted to do something for the MSA Trust ever since her dad became ill and hopes to raise awareness of the rare condition.

"It's a really good charity. I'm happy I'm doing it for them," she explained.

Rebecca's friend Kayleigh Cornally from Clara will also be taking part in the skydive with her and suggested the skydive as a fundraiser.

Rebecca said the MSA Trust has online support groups and in-person meetings around Ireland and the UK to raise awareness and also help anyone affected by MSA.

"Back when my dad was sick my family attended these meetings which helped with the fear of the unknown of what was to come," she explained.

Mickey worked in the Defence Forces in Custume Barracks and was diagnosed with MSA in 2017 but Rebecca said that her mother Rita first started noticing symptoms of the condition in 2011. "Obviously, I was a child back then, so I didn't really know what was going on and I'd say it was kind of 2019 when he started going completely downhill."

In his latter years, Mickey couldn't walk or talk and had to use a wheelchair.

Rebecca's parents met when Mickey was stationed at the army barracks in Athlone and were married for over 25 years prior to his death.

They had three children, Kayleigh, John (23) and Michael (30).

Rebecca said that her mother Rita noticed problems with Mickey's walking after he returned from a tour in Lebanon in 2011. "He'd kind of fall or just trip over something so small," said Rebecca.

"My Dad had a feeling that he hurt himself over there, but then as the months went on, it didn't go away, it just got worse. That's when Mam started calling for tests and stuff like that."

She added that her Dad had "very bad forgetfulness" and would often forget where he put his car keys, for example.

Rebecca said that they didn't know anything about Mickey's condition prior to his diagnosis and that they didn't know what was coming in terms of how his illness would progress.

"At the start we didn't even know there was no cure because it was kind of like appointment after appointment then, just talking with the doctors and the neurologist and then we were told there was no cure."

After this, the family reached out to the MSA Trust for further information and support.

Rebecca said that her Dad was in hospital an "awful lot" and mostly received pain treatment.

"I'd say at least once a month there was an ambulance at the house."

Speaking about Mickey's symptoms of MSA, Rebecca said that the issues with his walking were followed by loss of speech and an issue with swallowing.

She added that these symptoms worsened over time along with his pain. "His muscles were shrinking, all of his cells were dying off," stated Rebecca.

She said that he had to use a catheter to go to the toilet and that carers visited the family home three times a day to lift him.

Rebecca said that she decided to take on the skydive as her Dad was such a "fearless person".

"He was in the army for 41 years. He'd done so many tours overseas. I felt like it was just fitting and it's something that I've wanted to do. It's been on my bucket list for a while."

Rebecca said that Mickey served in 13 tours with the United Nations and that being a soldier was one of his proudest achievements, and that doing the skydive in memory of him will be one of hers.

The local woman said that her Dad would be terrified of her doing the skydive but that he would also be so proud of her for taking on the challenge.

"If he was still here today, I’m sure he would be right beside us jumping off the plane too because he was fearless right till the very end."

She added that her mother Rita was "shocked" when she heard that she would be doing a skydive.

Rebecca feels nervous ahead of the skydive as she explained that she's terrified of heights but said that she knows it will be worth it.

She added that she'll be a lot more comfortable knowing that her friend Kayleigh will also complete the skydive. Rebecca hasn't booked a date for the skydive yet but is planning to do it in June or July at the Irish Parachute Club in Clonbullogue, Co. Offaly

The initial target for the fundraiser was €1,500 but that was surpassed in just nine days. It has raised over €2,000 to date.

Rebecca remarked that she wouldn't have imagined the amount of support that she has received as she was nervous when she first posted the fundraiser.

"I'm so happy that I just took the leap to do it. It kind of taught me to just push yourself to do something because you never know what the outcome's going to be."

The Coosan native also said that she was "surprised" by the support from friends and family.

Rebecca had a great relationship with her Dad and said that she was "daddy's little girl" and often enjoyed going on runs with him. "He absolutely spoiled me my whole childhood. He was such a nice man."

"We're all still struggling a lot. It's something that never really goes away to be honest."

Mickey was a Derry native and he moved to Athlone when he was 16 as he was based at Custume Barracks. He completed a number of tours in Kosovo, Liberia and Lebanon.

The MSA Trust is the UK and Ireland's support and information service for people with MSA, their families and carers.

To donate to the fundraiser visit justgiving.com and search for 'Skydive for Mickey Duddy, Multiple System Atrophy.'