The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Olive backing UK dementia cash petition
APerthshire woman living with dementia has urged the UK Government to fulfil its election promise to double funding for research.
Olive Munro, from Ardtalnaig on Loch Tay, was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2015.
The 70-year-old has been joined by Dame Julie Walters – whose gran lived with her family while dealing with vascular dementia – in urging the government to deliver on its promise of more than £160 million a year into the research.
Nearly 50,000 people have backed the Alzheimer’s Research UK petition, with other stars including Dame Judi Dench, Stephen Fry, Brian Cox, Luke Evans and Dame Harriet Walter adding their names.
Urging others to sign the petition, Olive said: “I’ve witnessed the heartbreak of dementia in my family as three aunts died with Alzheimer’s disease and a cousin is now living in a nursing home. Dementia reduced them to a fraction of themselves, so being diagnosed with dementia myself was very upsetting.
“I don’t know what the future will hold. I don’t know how quickly things will get worse and there are currently no treatments to stop or slow dementia.
“That’s why I’m urging people to sign Alzheimer’s Research UK’S petition, calling on government to deliver on its election promise to double funding for dementia research.”
Sporting legends are to join a Fife man’s fundraising Castle Crusade in aid of research into motor neurone disease.
Hearts fan Gregor Miller is tackling the 40-mile route from Stirling Castle to the Jam Tarts’ home ground of Tynecastle in Edinburgh.
He aims to raise awareness of the disease two years after the death of his dad Campbell.
Former Hearts and Raith Rovers stars Ryan Stevenson and Colin Cameron will join the ambulance worker’s bid to raise £5,000 for research and treatment into the illness.
Ex-hibs striker Tam Mcmanus, referee Willie Conquer and Scotland rugby great Scott Hastings will also take part in the challenge on May 23.
Gregor, 49, works at the Scottish Ambulance Service station in Glenrothes.
He watched his dad deteriorate from a fit, golfloving police officer to a shell of his former self.
“My dad was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in May 2017 and passed away in 2019.
“He was a keen sportsman and played football for the police, and in later life, until his diagnosis, played golf three times a week.
“Dad only realised he had a problem when he could no longer grip a golf club.”
Gregor said his dad had to give up golf, then his driving licence, within a few months of his diagnosis.
“For a man who was never at home due to social events, this was a devastating blow.
“Dad was given two years to live and died within two weeks of the two years.”
In the last few months of his life, Campbell lost full power of his arms and legs and the ability to hold up his head.
“There were some really tough days at this point as his mind was fully active along with his eyes,” said Gregor.
“I would chat to him and tell him it’s all OK and that mum will be all right.”
Gregor has already raised more than £4,800 towards his £5,000 target and will donate a portion of his total to the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, launched by Scotland rugby great Doddie Weir who was diagnosed with MND in 2017.
The rest will be split between MND Scotland and the Euan Macdonald Centre to fund research.