Broadcaster Charlie Bird cried “tears of joy” after making it to the top of Croagh Patrick – as he confirms more than €2million has been raised for charity.
The retired RTE star was joined by thousands of eager hillwalkers yesterday as they made their ascent on the Mayo mountain in the hope of raising vital funds for the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta House.
Charlie, who was diagnosed with the illness last October, made it to the top of the mountain – and said he cried “tears of joy” when he achieved his goal.
READ MORE: Emotional scenes as Charlie Bird reaches top of Croagh Patrick and completes Climb with Charlie
He said: “I am completely blown away by the amazing support for Climb with Charlie all over the country and abroad.
“I can tell you we are going to go beyond €2m raised. I cried so much yesterday but they were all tears of joy. A big loving hug to everyone. Thanks everyone.”
He later followed up his tweet, confirming E2million had now been raised by shoppers donating at the tills in Dunnes Stores.
He said: “Extending the hand of friendship is out motto for climbwithcharlie. I can officially confirm we have gone over the two million euro mark in donations.
“The money raised by Dunnes Stores tills has brought us there. Let’s keep donating. We might reach two and a half million.”
Charlie thanked his Rte colleagues who made his climb possible, including Joanne Donnelly, Ryan Tubridy, Barry McGuigan, Matt Molly, Dermot Bannon and Baz Ashmawy as well as singer Daniel O’Donnell.
But he paid tribute to his beloved late colleagues, Jim Fahy and Colm Murray, who he said “were smiling down on all of us yesterday.”
“I love you all,” he added.
As well as the Croagh Patrick challenge, there were almost 238 separate ‘Climb with Charlie’ fundraisers taking place in Ireland as well as the US, South Africa, Australia and Spain.
Alongside his wife Claire, his daughters Orla and Nessa and his grandchildren, Charlie was joined by a host of well-known faces including Ryan Tubridy, Daniel O’Donnell, Barry McGuigan, Matt Molloy and Dermot Bannon.
When Charlie reached the top of the mountain on Saturday, there was a rapturous applause by supporters.
Charlie and Claire lit five candles in the small chapel on the summit, including one for his pal Vicky Phelan, who was forced to bow out of the climb due to her deteriorating health.
He also lit them for everyone else suffering from a terminal illness or struggling with their mental health alongside the people in Ukraine and those involved in the fight against Covid.
In a speech afterwards, he said the support from the whole country has lifted him in a way “which I cannot express in words.”
“But today is not about me - it is about everyone who has a terminal illness,” he said.
“And after the last couple of years that we have all gone through, with Covid, we know that many people have had their own personal mountains to climb every day.
The kindness that has been shown to him over recent months has “stunned me beyond belief.”
“Even though I still cry a lot and with my MND, crying is not that unusual, most times that I cry now is as a result of the kindness that is being extended to me every day,” he said.
“I have made amazing new friends over the past few months, and at some stage in the not too distant future, I am going to thank these people publicly.”
The ‘Climb with Charlie’ fundraiser will stay open for the next three months in order to collate the funding.
To donate, visit www.climbwithcharlie.ie
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