Northern Ireland

Former Antrim club hurler battling MND calls on GAA community to support him raising funds for NI Hospice

Hospice Staff Nurse Deborah McAllister (left) and Hospice Nurse Specialist Ursula Mallon (right) will be supporting Sean McCloskey’s golf event in aid of NI Hospice and raising awareness of the hospice care services for people with MND
Hospice Staff Nurse Deborah McAllister (left) and Hospice Nurse Specialist Ursula Mallon (right) will be supporting Sean McCloskey’s golf event in aid of NI Hospice and raising awareness of the hospice care services for people with MND Hospice Staff Nurse Deborah McAllister (left) and Hospice Nurse Specialist Ursula Mallon (right) will be supporting Sean McCloskey’s golf event in aid of NI Hospice and raising awareness of the hospice care services for people with MND

A FORMER Antrim club hurler battling motor neurone disease (MND) is calling on the GAA community to support him in raising funds for the charity helping him.

In 2014 Sean McCloskey was diagnosed with MND, the same incurable neurological condition that former Antrim football captain Anto Finnegan is also fighting.

The condition, which affects around 5,000 people in the UK, causes a breakdown in signals from the brain reaching their intended muscles and eventually leads to complete immobility.

For the past two years Mr McCloskey (49) has been receiving treatment from the Northern Ireland Hospice. The father-of-two, who played underage hurling for Loughgiel Shamrocks and whose sister Siobhan played camogie for Antrim and Shamrocks and won an All-Ireland medal for her county, said he is speaking out about his condition to highlight the treatment available at the Hospice Hub.

“It was back in 2014 when I began to notice some symptoms. I started falling down the stairs and tripping,” he said.

Read More: 'Supporting each other in hard times is what the GAA is about' - Dublin boss Jim Gavin at Run For Anto event

“My wife was really concerned so I raised it with my doctor and was referred for tests. I spent the whole month of November in the Royal and on December 6 2014 they told me I had MND.

“To be honest, I had a fair idea what the diagnosis would be. My uncle had the same condition and died in 2013 so in a way I had a feeling what might be ahead.”

Mr McCloskey said he “tried to get on with things” but his deteriorating health meant he had to leave his job at Allied Bakeries.

Since then he has remained determined to keep active and is a regular on the golf course. Regular visits to the Hospice Hub have proved invaluable, inspiring his decision to organise a charity golf day.

Read More: Anto Finnegan takes on the Camino to raise awareness of Motor Neurone Disease

“My walking and getting about is a lot worse. I use a stick or rollator to help me and have a hospital bed in the house,” he said.

“I see my consultant every three months and she seems happy with me. She says I’m strong. I try to keep as active as possible. I play golf twice a week and am a member of Cushendall. I feel it keeps me strong and that’s one of the most important things for me at the moment.

“The treatment I’ve had at the NI Hospice has helped so much. I love going and the staff are brilliant. I’ve had complimentary therapy and that’s really helped but I don’t think enough people know about the hospice and what they offer. People assume it’s for end-of-life care but that’s not the case.

“I found I’ve been able to get a lot out of my time there, which is why I’m calling on people to support the golf day – GAA players, people in the town, sportspeople – please come and help raise funds for the hospice.”

:: The event takes place at Ballycastle Golf Club on May 24. Contact the club on 028 2076 2506 for information.