Tens of thousands of people are set to climb their local mountains on Saturday to support Charlie Bird’s Croagh Patrick climb – as he smashes his goal of raising €1 million.
Charlie, who has been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, will climb Croagh Patrick today in a bid to raise funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta House.
The 72-year-old will begin his Croagh Patrick climb after half nine Saturday morning and it is hoped he will reach the summit shortly after 1pm.
The former RTE reporter – who has planned the climb since first revealing his diagnosis back in October of last year - will then light a candle at the church before making his descent back down the Mayo mountain after 2pm.
As many as 212 different climbs with 1,333 various fundraisers across the country will take place today (SAT) as thousands take part in the challenge.
Charlie will climb Croagh Patrick with his friends and family including RTE star Ryan Tubridy, Baz Ashmawy and Donegal crooner Daniel O’Donnell.
Speaking on his RTE Radio 1 show on Friday morning, Tubs said: “The bags are packed, and we are pretty much 25 hours away from the start of a wonderful venture and adventure. There is a great sense of solidarity in the country and all for the right reasons.”
Ahead of his climb, many of his colleagues at RTE wished him well.
Katie Hannon, who filled in for Joe Duffy on Liveline this week, said: “The very, very best of luck to Charlie Bird and Claire and Tiger and everybody who is out off tomorrow doing that climb with Charlie for a very, very good cause.”
Charlie thanked everyone across the country, “and in many places around the world” for taking part.
“I think we are now going to go beyond our target of raising €1 million for our two great charities,” Mr Bird said.
“Everyone who is supporting Climb with Charlie is extending the hand of friendship. Everyone will be able to donate while watching
“The Late Late Show and at the tills in every Dunne Stores across the country.”
Meanwhile Vicky Phelan - who was due to participate but was forced to withdraw due to a deterioration in her health – said her family will be there for her instead.
She said: “The big Climb with Charlie is going ahead on Saturday and I just wanted to wish everyone the very best of luck.
“I’m so disappointed that I can’t go, but a number of my family are heading up to Westport on [Friday] to do the climb, my parents, my sister, two of my brothers, and some of my nieces [and] nephews on my behalf. I would love to be there.”
The mum-of-two said that her ability to walk is still affected after her tough treatment regime but that she was improving.
She said: “I’m nearly there, but I’m not quite there yet. My walking is still quite limited and my back is still causing me a quite a bit of pain. I just couldn’t take the chance of heading to Westport this weekend sitting in a car for three hours and sleeping in a bed, that is not my own for three nights, I just couldn’t do it.
“So I will be with everybody in spirit. I just wanted to do a video update to wish everybody - Charlie Bird, my family, there’s a bunch of my friends going up to do the walk on behalf of Vicky’s Tribe as well.
“So hi to Laura, Madeline and Pamela and all the ladies and to everybody around the country who is doing a walk wherever you are doing it in your part of the world I wish you all the very best of luck wherever you are doing your climb.”
The climb will be streamed live on https://eventfm.ie/climb-with-charlie/ for those who cannot take part.
