NOMINATOR

NOMINEE

• Background and Extent of fundraising undertaken: Imagine the scene - back in the last recession in the 1980's you and your wife are working night and day building up your own business, trying to make a living for you and your 4 children and then you are hit with a bombshell - your wife is diagnosed with MS - what is you reaction - fear, uncertainty - shock.  MS, as an incurable, often progressive disease, can change the course of a person's life and around the time of diagnosis the person and family have much to come to terms with. I think myself I would just go into survival mode but not Tom. His reaction was what could he do to help others with the same problems and that is where it all began - this wonderful connection. The initial target Tom set for himself was 750 and after many thousands more he is still going.  He has undertaken all types of events to raise money and awareness for us over the years and is always planning what he can do next and who he can recruit to help us. No matter what life has thrown at him and he has had his fair share of trouble Tom never loses his determination to help us.

• Distinctiveness of the effort: The funding raised by Tom has gone towards the running of our Care Centre which was first set up in the year Tom started fundraising for us.  The MS Care Centre provides short-term respite care and therapy services to people with Multiple Sclerosis and other neurological conditions.  Located in the leafy suburb of Rathgar in the Centre offers excellent care and therapeutic services and is a home away from home for residents. Our care centre is a twelve bed respite Centre which not only gives people with MS the opportunity to avail of additional services but it also gives the carers an opportunity to rest and have some time to themselves.

• Longevity: Tom first signed up to fundraise for us in 1989 - an amazing 20 years ago and is still going strong.  The target he set himself this year is €10,000 and he is almost there. Tom has participated in 23 walks with us raising in excess of €70000 - not only reaching the fundraising target each time but also taking time out of his busy life to keep fit for the walking.

• Innovation: This is where Tom is something special - not only has Tom raised an amazing amount of money for MS Ireland he has also contributed greatly to raising the profile of the society in Galway and the surrounding areas. Along the way he has directly or indirectly recruited almost twenty other walkers - one in particular who has since undertaken 9 walks herself - the pyramid builds. Just today he rang to say he has a new recruit for next year!

• Leading by example: Not only does Tom continuously recruit people but he encourages them along the way and even gives them a helping hand with their fundraising.  Even when we are out in the mountains trekking - if things are getting tough and people are starting to feel tired - who do you think is the one who will burst into song - if someone is finding it hard going who will reach out their hand to help - Tom of course.