A dinner dance is to take place in the Nesbitt Arms in Ardara in aid of Paul Dawson, who is fighting Multiple Sclerosis.

MS is a disease which impacts the electrical messages the central nervous system sends to various parts of the body, causing varying degrees of axonal damage.

Paul’s wife Julie explains that they have already raised €29,000 of the €32,000 needed for Paul to have a treatment which will stop the progression of his MS, and is hoping that the dinner dance at the Nesbitt Arms will raise the last €3,000 they need.

The dinner dance will take place on Saturday the 29th of July from 7:30pm. Tickets are just €50 and include a drinks reception and a mouth water five course meal and raffle! Keltic Kaos will be playing music on the night, and a silent auction will also be hosted. You can purchase tickets from The Nesbitt Arms Hotel or from Julie on 086 0744489.

The treatment that can help Paul is available in New Dehli, India, and they are hoping to make the trip out in October.

Speaking about his experience with MS, Paul says after being diagnosed at 27-years-old, the MS has now progressed into secondary progressive MS.

“For many years now I have been living, indeed fighting this terrible disease called MS. Together my family and I have experienced many low points in its progression on my body. I have always looked on my battles with MS as somewhat of a war, with individual skirmishes as it attempted to take away certain capabilities of my person.

“I am honest and not ashamed to admit in the last 6 months I have started to lose this war and feel I need assistance in the form of stem cell treatment to enable me to continue with my battles and more importantly to ensure a positive, fruitful future for my family and I.

“The treatment I hopefully will be attending is now widely accepted to be the most medically efficient at combatting this condition and offers the opportunity for an improvement in a sufferers lifestyle.

“In order to have this treatment I am humbly asking for everyone’s help, whether it be in the form of a donation or in help with fundraising efforts. The treatment is extremely expensive coming in at a cost of €32,000.00 in its entirety.

“Unfortunately the MS is progressing at a rapid rate, there is no cure for this disease but we are hoping with everyone’s help to raise enough money to travel to India to have HSCT treatement, involving stem cells taken from my own body, which is widely accepted to be the most promising and successful treatment of MS to date which will slow down the progression.”

As part of the fundraising event they have some very exciting auction lots up for grabs where you can place a bid in secret – and the highest bidder wins. You do not have to be at the dinner dance to bid, and can bid by sending a message to the Paul Dawson MS Fundraising Facebook page.

Jim McGuinness has kindly donated his training kit from Celtic as one of the auction lots.

Another lot for the Celtic fans includes two return tickets to Glasgow with Doherty’s Travel along with two tickets to a Celtic game! No only that – this lot also includes a signed Roy Keane football in a perspex presentation box!

Another lot includes a golf bag with a signed Ryder Cup cap, golf towel and four rounds of gold for four people at Narin and Portnoo Golf Club, Ballyliffin Golf Club, Letterkenny Golf Club and Donegal Golf Club!

A beauty hamper is also up for grabs, including everything you need to pamper yourself; from hair straighteners to tan, makeup and hair vouchers, this hamper includes everything!

Julie says “All bids are silent, so no one knows the amount anyone else has bid, so if you want to win it, place your bid high! If you are interested please message us with your bid and your contact number and we will place the bid on your behalf on the night, all bids will go into a sealed box, the highest bidder wins!”

If you would like to help Paul and Julie reach India to allow Paul to get the treatment he needs, you can leave your donation in an envelope at Glenties Post Office FAO Paul Dawson.

Another upcoming fundraiser is a mud run in Letterkenny in August – are you up for the challenge?