Charlie Bird said he is remaining positive in his health battle and continues to walk and drive everywhere himself.
The veteran RTE broadcaster was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in October last year and has been candid about its effects including his struggle with swallowing and the loss of his voice. Charlie, 73, and his wife Claire, who have been busy raising funds for charity through the Climb With Charlie campaign ever since his diagnosis, said they are still “positive people”.
In a joint interview, where the couple opened up about the tough times behind closed doors with Charlie’s health battle, Claire told the Irish Mirror: “It changes all the time. It affects his swallowing and eating habits and when we go home, people don’t realise what it is like behind closed doors and all of the day-to-day things that we struggle with.
Read more: Charlie Bird cries tears of joy following touching tribute from Pieta House
“But listen we are positive people and you can’t overthink it too much, we like to be positive. Charlie drives everywhere, we go all over the countryside, we are going on a book tour signing at the moment and Charlie drives everywhere.
“Charlie is completely mobile and very determined to always walk, drive and do everything that is not in any way reliant on things like that.”
The couple sat down to speak as Charlie officially opened Pieta’s newest centre in Swords, North Co Dublin, and attended the unveiling of The Charlie Bird Therapy Room in dedication to his Climb With Charlie initiative which raised €1.6million for the suicide prevention charity earlier this year.
Speaking through his cutting-edge voice technology device, he said: “I want to promise you here this morning, while I am still alive and mobile, I want to continue supporting the incredible work of Pieta.
“Remember we never know who could be in a dark place struggling with their own personal mountains to climb every day. So I want to continue extending the hand of friendship while I still can.”
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