Swimmers in Ireland and around the world are taking the plunge this Christmas Day for a good cause

The swimmers are all friends of Shane McMahon (40), a young father from county Monaghan who was recently diagnosed with the disease.

Shane, a well known referee and sportsman, found out his symptoms were due to the disease just two months ago.

“I first realised the symptoms when my energy levels began to drop in June this year.”

“I then noticed I started to lose strength in my left arm and left leg and that led to muscle twitches. After many physio and doctor appointments and hospital stays I got the news in October that we all feared, that I had MND,” he said from his Carrickmacross home.

Shane and his fiancé Roslyn are parents to Clarke (2) and are awaiting the arrival of their second child shortly.

Shane’s brother Tomás said the family had taken part in the Ice Bucket Challenge “and I had watched the documentary Gleason, which tells the story of former NFL player Steve Gleason who records video journals for his unborn son.”

“Shane had watched an episode of DIY SOS in July 2017 and noticed the young man whose house they were redesigning had very similar symptoms to his.  He was another young man who had MND.”

Shane said that there are only about 350 people living with MND in Ireland at any one time and, “Roughly every 3-4 days someone in Ireland will be diagnosed with this condition.”

“There currently is no cure for this disease and since 1995 only one tablet has been developed to help slowdown the neurons from being attacked but it does not cure or repair the neurons.”

Tomás said, “Motor Neuron Disease is a progressive neurological condition that attacks the motor neurons, or nerves, in the brain and spinal cord.”

“The effect of this is that the messages sent by the brain gradually stop reaching the muscles. This leads to weakness and wasting of muscles which can affect how you walk, talk, eat, drink and even breathe. People with this disease rely on those around them to support and care for them increasingly as the disease progresses.”

“This money raised for this fund will be used to support Shane for his future medical care costs; medical equipment costs; and home modification and adaptation costs,” he explained.

Shane said that, “Professor Orla Hardiman and the Beaumont hospital need extra funding to help them research this condition. The Irish Motor Neuron Disease need extra funding to help people suffering from MND.”

“It’s important to raise awareness so Governments and pharmaceutical companies can work quicker to help find a cure.”

“MND is often referred as the 1000-day disease. For me it feels like time is ticking away and urgent awareness and funding is required so any current patient with MND, or the unfortunate person who will be diagnosed in 3-4 days, has hope of a cure and recovery,” Shane added.

To help raise awareness of MND and funds for Shane and his family as they prepare for the future, it was decided to donate the proceeds of this year’s Christmas Day swim in Carrickmacross to that cause.

The swim is now in its 36th year and to date has raised more than €500,000 for numerous people and charities.

Tomás explained that, “This year a former team mate of Shanes’ decided to nominate a few of Shanes friends who live abroad to do a swim on Christmas day, hence the name ‘International Christmas Day Swim.’

“We will be swimming at Creevy Lake here in Carrickmacross while Shane’s friends will be taking the plunge right around the World.”

“To date we have people in New York, London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Melbourne, Brisbane, Idaho, Cork, Drogheda, Los Angeles, Toronto, Quindoa China, Belgium, Sydney, Perth, Borneo and the Turks and Cacaos Islands in the Caribbean.”

“Some are individuals and some are in groups and they will be filming the swim and then posting it online on Christmas Day. Information on swim locations and times will be available on www.christmasdayswim.com,” Tomás added.

Shane is delighted at the support he has got and said, “It gives such an uplifting feeling to know that people care about you.”

However he said urgent action is needed to cure the disease.

“Raising awareness is great but what politicians are asking the questions like ‘are we doing enough to find cures to diseases such as MND?’ “

“This country should be a World leader in finding cures for such diseases,” he added.

Shane has been inundated with support from friends, family, fellow referees, GAA colleages and high profile sporting stars including rugby star Tommy Bowe who tweeted his support.

“The support has been incredible and very welcoming during this tough time. It’s very touching and thoughtful that friends and communities get together for each other and I can’t thank them enough for what they are doing for myself, Roslyn, Clarke and our new baby to be.”

Click on www.christmasdayswim.com for more information.

To donate, click here