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Grace O’Malley will benefit from the final night of Mission: Slimpossible! on Friday, March 14.Here’s her story. Grace’s story Hi my name is Grace O’Malley. I am a 4 year old girl from Robeen, Hollymount. When I was 18 months old, I wasn’t walking yet, so I started having some tests done. More tests were carried out in Dublin over the coming months and I was diagnosed with a condition called Spinal Muscular Atrophy type II when I was 22 months old. We had never heard of SMA before. (Besides being the name of a baby milk formula or the old religious magazine which my mum used to sell when she was younger!). So I hope I will make everyone aware of what SMA actually means to me. SMA is a genetic condition and is the number one genetic killer of children under the age of 2. One in 40 people are carriers of of the gene that causes SMA. It is a life threatening motor neuron disease which affects all of my voluntary muscles that are used for activities such as walking, neck control, breathing and coughing. This leads to a highly increased risk of infection of pneumonia and other respiratory infections. So to help me get over what would be a simple cough for another person, I need a lot of ventilation machine work to help me. I have to do my nebulisers on average twice a day, my bipap machine which blows air into my lungs which is basically like physiotherapy for my lungs and finally my cough assist machine which does exactly what it says on the tin… helps me cough. My mum or dad always bring me to my ‘holiday home’ Mayo General Hospital where I get first class treatment now because they know me so well. I always have to get chest x-rays done as my condition is so silent when I have a chest infection. I scream the place down for the first hour while I’m there but then I settle in. My Consultant Dr. Fox even calls me his Grandaughter now he gets to see me so much… as for my mother he always laughs and asks what ‘her diagnosis’ is as she feels she will be a Doctor in her next life One benefit out of all of it though is my brain is better than perfect. I just love going to playschool and playing with my friends. When I was aged 3, I was lucky enough to get my new super-wheels, my powered wheelchair! Now I can really get around, in certain adapted areas. This benefits my independence greatly. As for other basic needs like turning over in my bed at night, toileting, showering, dressing, picking things up that fall and trying to sit up from a lying position my mum, dad, family and friends even my 3 year old brother steps up to the mark… when I shout loud enough! Now my mum and dad say I am the luckiest girl around as I don’t get tired walking around and every little and big person want a wheelchair like mine. I am starting big school in September and I’ll be the fastest kid in the school yard so I’m looking forward to that. I have to do regular physiotherapy which I cannot say I love and I give mum and dad a hard time over doing it sometimes, I have to go into my standing frame every day for at least 1/2 hour and dad plays games with me while I’m in it. I have to try to keep my upper body strength increased with reaching exercises and I also wear splints on a daily basis on my feet. I have 6 monthly check up’s in Dublin to keep an eye on my spine and obvioulsy to check if I have deteriroated and I also get checked in Galway Hospital for my respiratory needs on a 6 month basis. I would like to thank you all so so much from my heart for helping me to further increase my independence with equipment required like a ceiling hoist for my new bedroom. I just got a new bedroom downstairs in our house, so now mum or dad don’t have to carry me up the stairs all the time. The ceiling hoist will further help with lifting and transfering me as I am getting heavier for mum and dad to carry so I’ll have a clear run/spin from my bedroom into my bathroom and also to transfer me into my wheelchair from my bed or toilet. In time, I will also need a changing bench, but as mam says one step at a time. I do not look too far ahead but I am grateful for all I have. But once again thank you so much with the help towards that first step. Best of luck to all of you taking part. Grace. x   Visit Motivation Weight Management website HERE

Great turnout tonight. 18 of our 20. Some long faces when Motivation Weight Management revealed target weights and food plans! Great training session afterwards led by Brian Golden and Keith McTigue. We train again Thursday and Friday nights. Both 8.30, meet at Lakeside Sports and Leisure Centre. Friday night is indoors – circuits. Sunday morning, 10 in the Green.

Despite uninviting weather conditions, we had a good turnout in Ballinrobe Town Park (the Green) for our second group training for Mission: Slimpossible! this morning.Thanks to Keith McTigue and Brian Golden for taking the group through a variety of stretching routines and passing on some tips. We had young and old along, which is what we want. Some walked, some jogged – everyone did at their own pace. Ballinrobe Town AFC were there at the same time, and Ballinrobe RFC were starting just as we finished. We estimate about 60 people got exercise. The next GAA team get-together is on Tuesday night when we meet our Motivation Weight Management people (Paula O’Hara and Tina McMahon, who have been putting in a huge effort) in the Lakeside Sports & Leisure Centre at 7pm. After this meeting, there will be a group session (walking or jogging) around Ballinrobe. If you want to join in, come to the Lakeside Centre at 7.30pm. Come togged and ready for action. More HERE Visit Motivation Weight Management website HERE

Drop weight, raise funds – Ballinrobe sports clubs have ‘Motivation’ to attempt ‘Mission Slimpossible!’ Three sports clubs in Ballinrobe are to take each other on in a novel weight loss fundraiser over the first three months of 2014. Mission: Slimpossible! is the title of the battle which will see representatives of the town’s rugby, soccer and Gaelic football clubs vow to shed excess weight. The competition will be overseen by Motivation Weight Management, who are kindly donating their expertise and personnel free of charge. Twenty members of each club have signed up to an eight-week campaign – and each participant has been given a personal weight loss target. The competition will be won by the club whose 20 representatives perform best against their individual targets. In 2011, Ballinrobe RFC, Ballinrobe Town AFC and Ballinrobe GAA club teamed up to contest a Mayor of Ballinrobe campaign, and the winner on that occasion – Peter McHugh of Ballinrobe RFC – will lead his club’s team in this repeat battle. “There are a number of angles to Mission: Slimpossible!,” explained Peter. “First off, it is a weight loss, wellbeing and fitness campaign for all 60 people involved, with a weekly weigh-in and training session, plus a number of other fun events over the eight weeks. “Secondly, it is an opportunity for all three clubs to raise funds, with supporters given the opportunity to back their favourite participants. Thirdly, there are prizes for those who buy tickets in support of the event. “And, fourthly, the event will also be used to raise money for a worthwhile local charity, Friends of Grace.” The competition kicks off on Tuesday, January 14th, and all will be revealed at the final night in the Valkenburg on Friday, March 14th. Admission to the final night will be €10 and all proceeds on the night go towards the Friends of Grace charity. Said Robin Smith, Motivation Weight Management: “At Motivation Weight Management we are delighted to be getting involved in this really worthwhile fun idea.” He added: “This community based event is going to help raise money for local clubs, charity and also help 60 people get closer to their healthy weight. We feel this event is worthy of everyone’s support. “We are really looking forward to helping people lose weight in a healthy way and sharing our nutritionally balanced food plans with them.” Lakeside Sports & Leisure Centre are providing their facilities and the services of their coaches free of charge to support Mission: Slimpossible! More information is available on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SlimpossibleBallinrobe The men and women who will fight this novel battle are as follows: Ballinrobe RFC: Peter McHugh, Trevor Watson, Seamus O’Toole, Paul Keane, Deirdre Burke, Aidan Golden, Marie Boyle, Josephine Keane, Martina Jennings, Eoin Roe O’Neill, Jimmy Daly, Brian O’Connor, Pat McGrath, Aidan Feerick, Ivana Dolihalova, John Flannery, Julie Duffy, Mick Walsh, John Walsh, Brian Flannery.   Ballinrobe GAA club: Alan Flannery, Liam Horan, John Culhane, Vincent Cummins, Michael Conroy, Jim Lennon, Eamon McGreal, Keith McTigue, Linda Stafford, Martin Murphy, Liam McCormack, Martina McCormack, Brian Golden, Tom Carney, Hilary Joyce, Paddy McTigue, Elaine O’Brien, Sean Murphy, Damien O’Kelly, Siobhan Costello.   Ballinrobe Town AFC: Billy McGrath, Ronan O’Dea, Lillian O’Malley, Helen O’Neill, Dermot Doran, Sean Reilly, Pat Maloney, Edel Loftus, Val Gibbons, Tracey Burke, Michael O’Connor, Tony Walsh, Pauline Joyce, Shane Ryan, John Doherty, Noel Finlay, Michelle Finlay, Sean Maloney, Aideen O’Shea, Carmel Keady,   How it will work: For the participant clubs: Each participant is given an individual weight loss target they aim to reach over the eight weeks. If they reach 100 per cent of their target, they score 100 points for their club. If they reach 75 per cent of their target, they score 75 points for their club, and so on. The club with the most number of points wins. If somebody exceeds their target, their score will remain at 100 points, as the organisers do not wish to promote excessive weight loss. The winning club will receive €1,500 first prize. For the supporters: There will be an opportunity for members of the public to buy a ‘forecast ticket’ during the competition. When purchasing this ticket, costing €5, each supporter will be asked to predict the order in which the three clubs will finish. Those who successfully predict the ultimate 1-2-3 will be entered into a draw for top prize of €300.   Key dates Initial weigh-in took place in Lakeside Sports & Leisure Centre, Ballinrobe: Tuesday, January 7th, 2014; Weekly weigh-ins, Lakeside Sports & Leisure Centre, Ballinrobe: Every Tuesday thereafter until final weigh-in (GAA 7pm, soccer 8pm, rugby 9pm); Group training sessions, Lakeside Sports & Leisure Centre, Ballinrobe: Friday, January 17th, and every Friday until Friday, March 4th (exact time to be confirmed); Saturday, February 1st: Ballinrobe RFC fun challenge, details to be finalised; Saturday, February 15th: Ballinrobe GAA fun challenge, details to be finalised; Saturday, March 1st: Ballinrobe Town AFC fun challenge, details to be finalised; Final weigh-in, Lakeside Sports & Leisure Centre, Ballinrobe: Tuesday, March 11th, 7pm; Winning announcement: Gala Charity Night, Friday, March 14th, venue to be finalised. All proceeds from the final night will go towards the Friends of Grace charity.   Steering committee: Alan Flannery, Liam Horan (GAA club); Michele Conroy, Brian Conroy (soccer club); Nicola Burke, Colette Burke (rugby club); Peter McHugh (Mayor of Ballinrobe). Visit Motivation Weight Management website HERE