Hi All !

My sister Aisling and I (Caoimhe) are running 10km in the Cork City Marathon on June 2nd in memory of our brother, Ciarán Forde, who passed away 10 years ago, aged 16 from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).

This ‘10k for 10 years’ run represents each year without Ciarán. We aim to raise funds for Muscular Dystrophy Ireland (MDI).

DMD is a genetic disorder which affects 1 in 3500 males, and is a progressive muscle weakening condition. Symptoms usually appear between ages 3 and 6, including delays in reaching development milestones, difficulty walking and frequent falling. Those with DMD often require a wheelchair by their teenage years, although Ciarán needed one by the age of 6. DMD has no affect on the brain and affects only the muscles, but the heart being a muscle, leads to a shortened life span.

Ciarán was a member of MDI from his diagnosis in 2002 up until his passing in 2014. MDI did so much for Ciarán, organising day trips and special events like the Summer Camp in Galway, which he would nearly cry coming home from! MDI allowed Ciarán to socialise, make friends and allow him to ‘feel normal’ and connect with others in the same boat as him. Not only did MDI make a huge difference to Ciarán’s life, it also had a huge impact on our families lives, and never failed to include Aisling and I, inviting us on day trips, including different activities and pampering days, which we will cherish the memories of.

Ciarán was an inspiration to all of us, he faced many challenges every day, ordinary tasks that we all take for granted. Despite his daily struggles, he successfully represented Ireland in power soccer, travelled many times to England to Man United games, completed his Junior Cert, and left a lasting impact on all those he met.

We miss Ciarán every day, and for his 10 year anniversary we felt it was only right to raise money for an organisation that did so much for him, and us. Your support, in any form, would mean the world to us as we honor Ciarán's memory.

Thank you,
Aisling and Caoimhe Forde x