Charlie Bird published a heartbreaking message this afternoon as he wished his followers a Merry Christmas and gave a health update.
The former RTE News Correspondent said his Motor Neurone Disease (MND) has begun to take a toll on him physically and added that he doesn’t know how long he “will survive for”.
In an update posted on Twitter on Sunday, Mr. Bird - who is a well-known advocate for people with terminal illnesses - said his MND is now affecting his limbs and his mobility.
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His post read: “Hi, myself and Tiger want to send you all Christmas wishes. But I need to be honest, over the past couple of weeks my MND has started to spread to my limbs and I don’t know how long more I will be mobile for, and survive for.
“But while I can, I want to extend the hand of friendship,” he wrote on Twitter, alongside a picture of himself and his beloved dog, Tiger.
Mr. Bird rose to fame for how candid he has been about his illness and recently fully lost his voice due to the progression of the tragic disease.
Despite this, Charlie climbed to the summit of Croagh Patrick earlier this year and raised a whopping €3.2m for the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta House.
Charlie has time and time again spoken out about the effect his diagnosis had on him - both physically and mentally - in the hopes it will help others going through anything similar.
In recent months he also revealed that he has made peace with his illness and said: “I have had a brilliant life”
“The truth is, I have finally come to terms with my illness. In my head, I have come to terms fully with my situation.
“I understand there is no silver bullet and I have just got to get on with my life. In other words, I fully understand what is ahead of me”
Speaking on the Late Lare show back in October, he said: "What keeps me going now? I have decided to continue to try and help people who are in dark places with my motto ‘to extend the hand of friendship to everyone’”.
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