Longford man who was six months from a wheelchair is now planning to climb Benbulben

Longford man Stephen Garland, who lives with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS), was once told he was six months away from a wheelchair.

Now he is determinedly planning to climb Benbulben on Saturday, September 21 to raise much needed funds for the MS North West Therapy Centre in Sligo and the Longford Branch of MS. .

Stephen, who has organised a weekend of events aimed at raising awareness and funds for MS, said he will forever be grateful to the North West Therapy Centre ‘for the kindness, support and treatments he received from the most wonderful staff there’.

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One of the 9,000 people living with MS in Ireland, Stephen, hailing from Granard, ran as an Independent European election candidate in the Midlands North West constituency where a key plank of his campaign was to raise awareness of Multiple Sclerosis.

He describes the Midlands North West as a blackspot for MS. “The incidence rate in the Irish State is 1 in 800 or 138 per 100,000 of the population, but in counties Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim the rate is 1 in 600.”

Thanking the 1,079 votes that gave him their first preference vote, Stephen had originally planned to climb Benbulben as part of his election campaign however an injury sustained by his father put paid to that. “My Dad broke his hip and I’m delighted to say that he continues his great recovery.”

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Saturday, September 21 is also International Peace Day and Stephen believes it is fitting he should be embarking on his Benbulben climb that day. “It is thanks to a famous Ukrainian doctor, Dr Fedorenko who treated me six years ago in the Pirogov hospital in Moscow and that changed my life.”

Also well known as an international comedy and music promoter, Stephen has organised a crammed weekend (Thursday, September 19 - Saturday, September 21) of positive events incorporating Culture Night, the Benbulben climb on International Peace Day complete with live streamed unfurling of Ukrainian and Palestinian flags from the summit. 

‘The Best of Us’ in Granard

Stephen will perform a show entitled ‘The Best of Us’ in Lus na Gréine Family Resource Centre, Granard on Thursday, September 19 at 7.30pm. 

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From running in the European elections to climbing Benbulben, from battling a ‘no treatment, no cure’ diagnosis to advocating for plant medicines, Stephen will bring the audience on an inspiring journey through comedy and storytelling. The show concludes with an interactive Q&A. 

Culture Night, September 20 in Sligo

Stephen will perform a special edition of his show, ‘The Best of Us’, as part of Sligo Culture Night on Friday, September 20 at 7.30pm in Garavogue Bar. 

While all Culture Night performances are FREE, for management purposes the public do need to reserve their places via The Best of Us’ Culture Night Sligo Eventbrite page.

International Peace Day

From 10am on Saturday, Stephen will climb Benbulben, one of Ireland's most beautiful landmarks. September 21 is also International Peace Day and it is Stephen’s intention to unfurl both Palestinian and Ukrainian flags at the summit with a live stream and he adds, “Expect some Lennon possibly in the soundtrack!”

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The climb is primarily aimed at raising much-needed funds for the North West Therapy Centre via a Go Fund Me Page (Climb for Mind, Body and Soul - MS Therapy centre!) - https://gofund.me/3d0b7de9

From 6pm on Saturday in Maeve’s Bar, Sligo, the events conclude with a heartfelt tribute to Dubliner Mark Gilligan, a legend of the Irish music industry, who battled MS himself for 16 years. 

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Mark shared the same stem cell treatment journey as Stephen and he was making similar massive improvements but sadly succumbed to cancer in September 2023. The memorial music session in Maeve’s Bar will be led by Joe Connolly. 

All musicians are welcome to join and celebrate Mark’s enduring legacy.

Join the Cause 

Stephen Garland invites everyone to participate in these meaningful events. Full details can be found on his website: www.garland4europe.com

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