Kilimanjaro climb for Mayo MS Society

TWENTY-eight-year-old school teacher Tracey Cannon will this week commence a sponsored climb of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, to raise funds for multiple sclerosis (MS) sufferers in Mayo, writes Tom Gillespie.

Her father, Liam Cannon (pictured), of Cannon’s Fruit & Veg in Castlebar, was diagnosed with the disease in 2006. He is currently chairman of the South Mayo branch of MS Ireland.

MS affects the brain, spinal cord and optic (eye) nerve, all part of the central nervous system. There is no cure. Treatment typically focuses on speeding recovery from attacks, slowing the progression of the disease, and managing symptoms.

Tracey, who has been teaching in Abu Dhabi for the past five years, is making the 19,341-foot climb in Tanzania with a friend over nine days, commencing tomorrow (Friday).

Sponsorship cards are on display in Cannon’s at Humbert Way and at the MS Shop, Market Square, Castlebar.

Tracey, niece of Donal Cannon, manager of the MS shop in Castlebar, said: 'The trip is self-funded and all monies donated go directly to the South Mayo branch of MS Ireland.'

She has set up a page on www.everydayhero.com where people can make donations.

She added: 'I created this page because I want to make a difference. I’m inspired by the work of the MS Society of Ireland and wanted to support them by raising money.

'The trip will be entirely funded by myself, therefore any money raised will go directly to the MS Society of Ireland, with the main benefactor to be the South Mayo branch.'

Liam, who is 30 years in business this year, spoke of his diagnosis.

'In the evenings when I finished work, instead of going home and sitting in a chair I used to go off for a walk around the ring road. One evening I had covered about two miles when my left leg was aching a bit. I felt I was not that fit, that I must get fit, so I kept walking thinking I would overcome it. But it was not getting better,' he explained.

'The next thing it started affecting my day’s work. As the day went on my legs would get weaker. I said there was something wrong here so I went to my doctor and she had a fair idea of what was wrong. She sent me to a specialist in Galway. He did a good few tests, scans and a lumber puncture, having a fair idea all along what was wrong.

'In November 2006 he told me I had MS. I remember coming from Galway, my wife Patricia was driving. I said I would feel a lot worse if he told me I had cancer. A lot of people have got cancer since and have died. I’m still hammering along.

'I kinda took it alright. I accepted it fairly good. What do you do? Do you lie down under it or do you get up and get on with it? I got on with it.'

Liam continued: 'When I got the auld ailment I got involved with the local MS Society - the South Mayo branch - and I try and help out there. I have been chairman for the last two years. We have a committee and we meet once a month. We have fundraisers and we try and help a lot of people that would be worse than me, maybe with a fuel bill.

'Tracey, who is into keep fit, and a friend in Abu Dhabi decided they would like to take on a challenge to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Once they decided to do it she said she might as well raise a few pound for my MS Society. She set up the challenge on Facebook. She is financing the trip herself and every penny she collects goes to the society.'

Liam, who has two other children, sons Colin (30) and Leo (23), stressed: 'The funds raised will be used in the local MS branch. Every penny of it will be spent locally in south and west Mayo. It is a voluntary branch. No one gets paid. We have a hard working seven to eight on the committee.'

Liam is on the revolutionary MS drug Fampyra - a slow-release oral tablet indicated for the improvement of walking in adult patients with multiple sclerosis with walking disability.

He said: 'I was getting that all the time. We were trying to get the government to come on board and recognise it. They were trying to get the companies to bring down the price. They did come on board in the end. I am on that drug all the time. It slows down the progress of MS.

'I am thankful for what I have, not sorrowful for what I have lost. That’s the way I look at it.

'Once I can come to work for a certain amount of time I am happy. I come in at 8 a.m. and wait there until 2 to 2.30. Once I can do that it is good therapy. I have always been used to working six days a week.'