Former Antrim Football Captain Anto Finnegan Supports Project MinE for MND

Posted on: 21 May 2015

Former Antrim football captain Anto Finnegan has made a significant donation to an international initiative Project MinE conducting research into Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

The Irish arm of Project MinE is led by Professor Orla Hardiman, Professor of Neurology at Trinity College Dublin, whose MND research group is of international renown.

Anto, who was diagnosed with the terminal condition in 2012, has taken proceeds from the historic Game For Anto – a GAA match staged at the home of Ulster Rugby in November last year to raise MND awareness and research funds.

The 41-year-old Belfast man, who captained the saffron county for five years of his 10-year inter-county career, is lending his support to Project MinE.

Following his diagnosis, the father of two set up deterMND Trust with the aims of raising awareness of Motor Neurone Disease and funds to continue research into a condition that no cure exists for thus far.

Anto, who on a recent visit to Trinity, also donated blood for his DNA to become part of the research project, said: “The deterMND Trust is delighted to support Project MinE.

“The work being undertaken within the Project aligns closely with deterMND's aims of identifying the possible cause of Motor Neurone Disease and hopefully leading to successful treatments for people living with the condition. We wish the Project MinE team every success in raising the additional necessary funds to complete this vital research.”

Professor Orla Hardiman said: “We are very grateful to Anto for his personal commitment to progressing MND research for the sake of future generations. It shows generosity of his spirit and determination to make a difference.”