Raising cash on Great Wall trek

Emma is fundrasing for MND Scotland

Motherwell woman Emma Hopkinson is raising money for charity MND Scotland by testing her limits with a five-day trek along the Great Wall of China.

The 24-year-old is a student nurse at the University of the West of Scotland’s Hamilton campus, going into her second year.

Emma also works part-time as a support worker for Support for Ordinary Living (SOL).

And she said: “I have worked at SOL for the past year supporting individuals with a learning and/or physical disability, in the comfort of their own home.

“One gentleman I support has been living with motor neurone disease for the past five years of his life. Myself and his two other support workers do our best to provide the care he requires on a daily basis.

“We decided to do the trek on his behalf as I want to be able to raise awareness of MND, and I also want to raise money that can help provide other individuals with the care they require, as well as fund research to find a cure.he has also inspired me to take my studies further in the future to become an MND nurse myself one day.”

Emma will embark on her adventure on September 14, 2019.

And she added: “I previously did the zip slide across the river Clyde and was thinking about a bungee jump, but the gentleman I support suggested doing something bigger, like the China trek.

“I have started doing some light training as I had a foot injury a few weeks ago and am waiting for it to fully heal. Once it has, I’m looking forward to doing a few munros with my mum; she is an expert and has climbed 108 of Scotland’s munros.

“I have raised a small amount so far but I am in the process of planning a charity night that I hope my family, lots of friends and colleagues will attend.

“I am most looking forward to the experiences the next year will bring, raising funds and awareness, meeting new people and hosting charity events. I am a bit worried about doing it on my own but can’t wait for the challenge.”

Iain Mcwhirter, head of fundraising at MND Scotland, said: “Emma is one of the amazing 42 MND Scotland fundraisers who has signed up for our Great Wall of China Trek. We’ll be supporting Emma over the next year and can’t wait to see the team coming together for a once in a life-time experience.

“Without supporters like Emma we wouldn’t be able to continue supporting people affected by MND across the country and fund research towards a cure.”

Visit www.justgiving. com/fundraising/emmahopkinson2 if you would like to donate to Emma’s fundraising target.

MND Scotland is the only Scottish charity providing care and support to people affected by motor neurone disease, as well as funding vital research into a cure.

Motor neurone disease is a rapidly progressing terminal illness, which stops signals from the brain reaching the muscles.