30-Jan-12: Muscular Dystrophy Ireland aims to provide information, advice and support to people with neuromuscular conditions and their families through a range of support services.

Our objective is to promote through practical empowerment, independent living for people with the condition muscular dystrophy. MDI supports advocating for services to enable people with neuromuscular conditions to fully participate in society and to live a life of their own choosing.

MDI also aims to support and fund research into neuromuscular conditions.

Naglis with Catherinen Byrne and Enda Oates from Fair City

My name is Ineta Montvilaite, and I have 10 year old brother Naglis, which has Muscular Atrophy. MDI association helps him and many other kids and adults, giving them lots of support, advice and hope to finally find a cure for this horrible condition. My brother is going to Balbriggan Educate Together 3rd class, he loves school. Maybe you have seen him around Balbriggan he is very playful and has high involvement in various activities. He plays power soccer for Fingal and goes to Balbriggan Youth Service.

I'm attaching few pictures from the photo-shoot for 'Have a Heart' Campaign with Naglis and two Fair City actors at RTE. This year it is MDI's 11th National Awareness Campaign 'Have a Heart'. An idea behind this is firstly, to raise much needed funds to help enhance the services which MDI provides for its members and secondly, but equally as important, to spread awareness about the condition muscular dystrophy and the services which MDI provides.

Since its conception, this campaign has raised thousands of euro each year through the sale of two handmade heart shaped chocolates retailing at only €2.

In 2010 as an additional means of raising funds through this campaign, MDI also introduced heart shaped tea light scented candles for €3.00 each, which also proved to be very popular.Because of the increased demand in MDI services and cutbacks in Government funding the National Awareness Day in recent years has become a week long event and this trend will continue for the 2012 Campaign.

Can You Help: Once again, MDI will be selling two heart shaped chocolates for €2 and tea light scented candles for €3.00 nationwide and we are now looking for volunteers to help sell these during our National Awareness Campaign, which will take place from 11th – 14th February 2012.

Tea light scented candles for €3.00 will be available at Forever Beauty Salon in 8 Mill Street, Balbriggan (hairdressers just beside the cinema)

To find out more about Muscular Dystrophy Ireland (MDI) here