'MND is not a nightmare that one day I will wake up from'

A Co. Louth woman who runs her own tea business is this year's 'Drink Tea for MND Ambassador'.

Lily Chen was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) three years ago. She lives in Termonfeckin with her family where she runs her tea business, Lily’s Tea.

Lily Chen’s first encounter with MND was over 30 years previous, when as a teenager, she read about Prof Stephen Hawking’s “weird” disease. She thought that it was so rare that it must only happen to geniuses like him. In 2016, she noticed her left arm could not lift the cooking pot. Later, she noted her voice slurring and occasionally when out running she stumbled and fell a few times.

“All the natural abilities I took for granted such as swallowing, speech and mobility started weakening, like an invisible hand that is turning down my power,” recalled Lily.

Lily shares her story about life with MND in the hope that greater awareness will generate increased support for those living with this degenerative and debilitating condition.

“Communication is getting difficult; I miss Irish banter. Small things like giving away all my high heel shoes are heart-breaking,” said Lily.

It’s such an unforgivable disease. But the public's support for Drink Tea for MND help raise funds for people like Lily to get the simple life changing supports they need. It will provide specialised beds, wheelchairs, and for people like Lily who love the ‘Irish banter’, communication aids when MND takes their voice away.

There are more than 400 people living with MND in Ireland, and every three days we lose another person to this debilitating disease.

You can join Lily – any day during March – in raising a teacup in support of everyone impacted by MND. It couldn’t be easier to host your own Drink Tea event, you can even do all your fundraising online – just visit imnda.ie for more.

“So here I am, raising the teacup with a small bit of hope and loads of love. Let’s all Drink Tea for MND,” said Lily.

If you can’t organise a tea day, why not make a tea donation, just text MND to 50300 and donate €2. (Some network providers charge VAT, meaning a minimum of €1.63 will go to IMNDA. Service Provider LIKECHARITY 0766805278)

The power of your support also funds the charity's six MND nurses who visit families in their homes providing expert care and advice. Over 85% of IMNDA. services are funded by events like Drink Tea for MND.

See www.imnda.ie for more.