Charlie Ireland, the agronomist and farming consultant known as 'Cheerful Charlie' on Prime Video's Clarkson's Farm, has detailed his father's 'devastating' Motor Neurone Disease (MND) diagnosis in a heartfelt Instagram post. The tribute was shared on Father's Day, which also coincided with Global Motor Neurone Disease Awareness Day on June 21.
Charlie Ireland's Emotional Father's Day Message
In a video posted to his Instagram account, Ireland spoke candidly about the impact of MND on families and the importance of special days for those affected. 'MND Awareness Day casts a spotlight on remembering those special days that pass during the time people are afflicted with the disease,' he said. 'These are special days and any anniversary that marks life, which is precious, such as Father's Day or can simply be days where people with MND can reconnect with being themselves again – whether that's through mobility or speech - makes a massive impact to their lives and living it as normally as possible.'
Ireland, who has been an ambassador for the MND Association for nearly a year, highlighted the significance of the date: 'Overall, I think it's a poignant day Father's Day – men are more likely to develop the disease, so the fact the Global Awareness Day falls on Father's Day makes it just a little bit special this year.'
Father's Battle with MND
Ireland's father, Christopher, was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in late 2007 and died in 2011 at the age of 67. 'It's also particularly poignant for me that it lands on Father's Day - my father was affected with Motor Neurone Disease, and he died in 2011 having been diagnosed in late 2007. Although nearly 15 years has passed, and time really does heal, it's an opportunity to remind people of the devastating impact of the disease,' Ireland said. 'Unfortunately, it impacts far too many people and anything we can do to improve, accelerate getting an answer to a cure would be absolutely marvellous.'
He paid tribute to his father's character: 'Dad had a great sense of humour and he also treated people incredibly fairly no matter who they were which really was a powerful trait that enabled him to talk to absolutely anybody which was a fantastic as a boy growing up. Dad was a farmer, but he backed us to go and do other things with our careers, so my brother, my sister and I have all done different things, and he was incredibly supportive of whatever we did.'
Support from the MND Association and Fundraising Efforts
Ireland noted that his family was 'very fortunate' to receive 'amazing support' from the Lincolnshire Motor Neurone Disease Association. As an ambassador, he ran the first Rob Burrow marathon, which was also his first-ever marathon. 'I'm still working on ideas about how I can help and that's what it's about, it's about helping, supporting those who are raising money,' he said.
He concluded: 'If I can maybe connect with a different section of society and people who don't know about the disease – that would be a great outcome to make people more aware of unfortunately how common it is, how many people get diagnosed with the disease each year but also for those who are impacted, we want to make them aware of the support they can get, from the local MND Association members and make their lives as comfortable as they can be.'
For more information about Motor Neurone Disease, visit mndassociation.org. Clarkson's Farm Season 5 is streaming on Prime Video now.
