Fundraiser to help Rush man with MND get garage conversion

A GOFUNDME campaign has been created by Rush local Lee Smith to raise much needed funds to complete a vital project.

Lee has set up the page on behalf of his dad Tony who was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease a few months ago.

Sadly, Tony’s particular diagnosis is aggressive and he has declined rapidly.

In these past months, Tony has gone from being able to slowly walk up the stairs to struggling to do the most basic steps.

Tony has been supplied with a medical bed, but this unfortunately has to be kept in the family’s dining room while they wait for the garage to be converted into his new living area with a bedroom and washroom.

On the GoFundMe page, Lee explains how his father Tony urgently needs his living area to be completed as soon as possible.

“Sadly, his diagnosis is of the aggressive side of the disease and within a few short months his abilities have declined rapidly,” Lee says.

“He has all but lost the use of his legs due to muscle strength and has gone from being able to slowly walk up stairs to not being able to do even the basic of steps.

“Due to this his medical bed, which he has been supplied with, has had to be left in the dining room while we waited for the side garage to be converted to his new bedroom/living room/wash room.

“With all this happening right before Christmas all the builders were completely booked up.

“My dad has been grant approved for the necessary works to be done up to the value of €26,500 euro…with the amazing generosity of family right before Christmas we raised a further €3,500 euro… sadly though, with the current climate of construction costs having skyrocketed.

“New quotes are currently ranging from €35,000 to €43,000.”

Lee has set a goal of raising a further €10,000 through the GoFundMe page.

Lee adds, “we have also decided that if we do reach our goal of 10,000 euro and the build is complete, any remaining funds will be donated to the Irish MND association on my Dad’s behalf.”

Any readers who would like to contribute to the campaign should go to: www.gofundme.com/f/help-tony-with-his-side-garage-conversion