Thousands of people all over Ireland will climb mountains and hills this Saturday as part of the Climb With Charlie project - brainchild of former RTÉ Chief News Correspondent Charlie Bird.
In his house in Co Wicklow, Mr Bird is sifting through boxes of cards, letters and drawings, some of which arrived in envelopes containing little information other than his name.
Since he announced his motor neurone diagnosis and his subsequent decision to climb Croagh Patrick for charity, he and his wife Claire have been astounded by the outpouring of goodwill from members of the public who have been sending everything from donations to mass cards to poems they have written about his journey.
Some feel they know him well from his years as Chief News Correspondent with RTÉ, others are children who don't remember a time when he was a daily presence on our TV screens, but all have been touched by his decision to climb a mountain and raise money for two charities close to his heart, Pieta and the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association.
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The plan to climb Croagh Patrick began as a simple ambition, which Mr Bird mentioned on the Late Late Show when he first spoke about his condition.
He and Claire could never have predicted what would happen next as hundreds and then thousands of people said they wanted to make the climb with him.
The numbers involved meant they could not all climb Croagh Patrick safely so the project was extended to include any location around the country.
In fact all you have to do to take part is pick a hill or a mountain - or even the stairs, Mr Bird says - and donate via the ClimbWithCharlie.ie website.
During his years with RTÉ, Mr Bird was one of the best known broadcasters in the country and many of his friends from the RTÉ days and beyond have weighed in with support.
From a U2 track reworked by Bono, to a charity single from Michael English and friends, all of those who have known Mr Bird, or simply feel they know him through his work, have come on board to support the campaign.
His distinctive voice has been badly affected by his condition but using sophisticated voice technology he tells me that the climb is 'not about him'.
He says he wants to extend a hand of friendship to anyone going through a tough time and intends to light candles for others including those affected by the conflict in Ukraine and his friend, women's health campaigner Vicky Phelan.
But his main focus is on his two nominated charities, Pieta and the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Hundreds of thousands of euro have already been raised for the cause and that total is rising all the time.
More than 140 climbs have already been organised and people can join in any time up to 2 April.
"When we got the news of Charlie's illness we were devastated", says Mrs Bird.
"But this - the climb - has given us such a lift, and now the whole of Ireland is climbing with us."
Further details of how to donate can be found on ClimbWithCharlie.ie
