My ‘Drink tea for MND’ event was a great success. We managed to raise 2235 euro so I am thrilled about that.

We began at 10 o clock on Sat morning. I concentrated a lot on the cake sale this year. I had a selection of homemade jams, marmalades. I also had lettuce and rhubarb. Then there was various breads, scones, tarts, etc. I priced all these articles at 3 euro each. However, when people called, 95% of them purchased an item for €3 but donated €10 to the charity. It was just fantastic.

Many people had tea and coffee and enjoyed plates of fresh home baked breads, buns, etc. Approx 12 ladies made food for your association.

By Sat at 1pm, all plates were bare, and all the foods in the take away section were sold.

I went home and began baking again, and so too did a lot of other ladies. Sunday morning we were up at the craic of dawn, aprons on once more, up to our elbows in flour. Once more we opened the hall doors at 10am, and the crowds rolled in. Three different priests publicised the event at the three masses, and the congregation listened to their pleas and came to support us. The three priests also came. Once more, all the freshly baked breads, and jams were sold.

If I had to have 100 cakes of bread I could have sold them. The cake sale was a wonderful success, as this enticed people to come into the hall, and a lot just called, took a cake of bread, and made generous donation.

There was an army of ladies assisting me, and I needed each and every one of them. They were just fantastic, and I could not have done it without them all.

When the public finally left yesterday at lunch time, we washed and tidied the hall. I began to count the cash in our donation boxes. I could not believe the amount of 10, 20, 50 euro notes that we had. All of my helpers were with me as I counted, and indeed there was a lump in my throat, and a tear in my eye as I announced how much was raised, and I viewed the happy content faces of my army of helpers.

So yes, many many drank tea for MND in Cooley at the week end, and thank God for the many wonderful people who give so generously of their time and financially so that we may reach out and support another human being.