Mullingar stop in 200km walk for Muscular Dystrophy Ireland

Paddy Hickey is raising funds and awareness for Musuclar Dystrophy Ireland (MDI), by walking 200km from Castlebar to Enfield, passing through Mullingar along the way.

In particular, he hopes to highlight the neuromuscular condition, Bethlem myopathy, which his nine-year-old son Ollie was diagnosed with at the age of four.

The walk starts in Castlebar on Sunday August 13, and finishes in Paddy's hometown of Enfield, on August 18.

It will be done in six stages, and will arrive from Ballymahon to Mullingar on Thursday August 17. The last stage is Mullingar to Enfield, which will get underway on Friday August 18.

"I’ll be walking along the Royal Canal Greenway as much as possible," begins Paddy. "Bethlem myopathy is a rare condition affecting the skeletal muscles and connective tissue. The whole idea for the fundraiser was driven by Ollie.

"Right now, there’s no cure for Bethlem myopathy. And you know you have the moments where you think, ‘What's life going to be like?’ and stuff like that. I’d like to think that the more awareness that's raised about every condition the more advances can be made," Paddy tells the Westmeath Examiner.

Paddy says all the funds raised will go to MDI, to be used to provide much-needed services.

"Ollie will turn nine during the walk. We've planned a party for him in Roscommon that day, which is where we'll be on that date.

Olllie's a great lad. He attends music academy, he’s a drummer and he’s actually really fantastic at it. Recently he got up in front of a crowd of 200 people and won student of the month.

"Sometimes he gets frustrated with the fact that he can't play football and stuff like that but, actually, the FAI (Football Association of Ireland) have this thing called, ‘Football for all’. He's starting that in August and I'm going to do the coaching with him as well.

"He's doing great. He doesn't slow down and keeps going and, personality-wise, as everyone says, he's been here before like. He's a character!

Paddy plans to walk around 30 - 40km a day.

"It would be absolutely brilliant if people could come along and join me for a little bit of the walk or to cheer me on. We’ll keep people up to date on social media about where we are on the route on different days. And really, whatever way anyone can support it, that's what it's all about."

To donate, go to https://www.idonate.ie/ollieswalkformdi or follow along on Instagram.