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Charity raises over £85,000 to help raise awareness of Motor Neurone Disease
PALS Ireland (People with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) was a charity founded by the late Ian Montgomery, Newtownards, after being diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (PALS).
Ian was well-known in farming circles. He was a prominent Holstein breeder, and his Smiddiehill prefix is recognised throughout the UK and further afield.
The charity’s aim was to raise awareness of this progressive, fatal, neurodegenerative disease which is a form of Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
Pals Ireland has raised over £85,000 which has been donated to a number of research, patient care and fundraising initiatives in relation to MND.
A donation of £20,000 was handed over to Stephen Thompson and Margaret McElfatrick the chairman and secretary/treasurer of the Motor Neurone Disease Association, by Ian’s children, Leiza and Grant Montgomery.
A further £57,000 was donated to Johns Hopkins Medicine to assist in the advancement of ALS research. A cheque was presented to Stephen Thompson, chairman of the Motor Neurone Disease Association, on behalf of the Dept of Neurology at Johns Hopkins Medicine.
PALS Ireland has also donated £8,125 to support Dr Collette Donaghy of the Royal Victoria Hospital on a three-month fellowship in conjunction with specialist motor neurone disease (MND) clinics in London and Oxford.
The aim of her research is to increase understanding of MND and patient care within the South Eastern Trust.
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