A former Irish Eurovision contender with motor neurone disease has advised RTE star Charlie Bird to ‘laugh more than cry’ as he gets to grips with being diagnosed with the condition.
Acclaimed musician Roy Taylor, 64, has refused to succumb to the disease since his own diagnosis three-and-a-half-years ago and uses his talents to write and record chart-topping hits as fundraisers to aid research.
This week he released a tear-jerking duet with his 12-year-old daughter Ella called ‘I Can’t Wait For Tomorrow’, which he has also dedicated to all MND ‘warriors’.
And he has urged former RTE presenter Charlie Bird, 72, who was recently diagnosed with the devastating condition, to ‘keep positive and keep fighting.’
“There are lots that I would like to say to him. But the main things are to think positive, focus on what you can do more than what you can’t,” said the resident of Dundalk, Co Louth.
“His head will be filled with mixed emotions. The idea is to fill your day with more smiles and laughter than sadness and tears. That’s how you stay in the ring and keep the fight going.”
Charlie Bird last week said of the disease that: “My voice will go first. And my voice has been me.”
But Roy, who made his name as a vocalist, has managed to keep singing despite the same prognosis.
The former Jump The Gun frontman, who once represented Ireland at a Eurovision final, was told he might never sing again after his diagnosis, yet he has written and recorded two songs for MND - one a number one - and he hopes his new tune will again top the charts.
He said: “Ever since Ella was three years old, I’d say to her every night: ‘Ella, I can’t wait for tomorrow.
“And she’d answer back: ‘Cause you’ll love me even more.’"
The lyrics include Ella’s beautiful heartfelt voice singing :”With every step I take, I see your shining light. Your morning hugs fill me with love. Your bedtime kiss at night.’
And Roy has taken that special moment between him and his daughter and shared it to raise awareness and funds to beat MND and to encourage other warriors to keep going.
“I can’t wait for tomorrow and that’s the message I’d like to send out to MND warriors everywhere because tomorrow night might be a better day.”
All proceeds of the song, which can be downloaded from iTunes or Google Play from Thursday, will go towards researching Motor Neuron Disease.
