The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Angus man welcomes funding to help people with rare brain disease
Keith Swankie praised for campaign to appoint dedicated manager
A campaigning Angus man battling a progressive neurological condition has welcomed Scottish Government funding for a new development worker.
Keith Swankie, 47, from Arbroath, was diagnosed with the debilitating disease progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) in 2012. As part of his fight for greater awareness, he held talks with Conservative MSP Miles Briggs and PSP Association chief executive Andrew Symons.
This led to a cross-party parliamentary meeting in Holyrood where MSPs discussed what could be done to make people more aware of the disease.
The Scottish Government has now said it will provide £25,000 to the PSP Association to support a new development manager post.
The worker will raise awareness of PSP and corticobasal degeneration (CBD) across Scotland in collaboration with charities and health care professionals.
Mr Swankie has campaigned for years to raise awareness of his uncommon brain disorder which affects movement, control of walking and balance, speech, swallowing, vision, mood, behaviour and thinking.
He said: “I am absolutely delighted the Scottish Government has co-funded this position as I know costs are tight.
“Miles Briggs hosted a cross-party round table meeting in Holyrood last November. Jenny Marra MSP also wrote to the Scottish Government to ask what support they could lend.
“So it’s a massive thanks to Miles for making the meetings happen and to Jenny working across parties with Miles to get us to this fabulous result which will only benefit both sufferers of PSP/CBD and their families in Scotland.”
Andrew Symons said: “We are really pleased the Scottish Government has recognised the need for this role and supported it with a generous grant after several years of tireless campaigning by Keith Swankie.
“The development manager will work at the strategic level to raise the profile of PSP and CBD with the Scottish Government, NHS Scotland and other neuro-degenerative charities to educate health and social care professionals in best practice treatments.”
Iam absolutely delighted the Scottish Government has co-funded this position as I know costs are tight.
KEITH SWANKIE
Life dealt Keith Swankie a devastating blow when he was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) in 2012. The debilitating neurological condition is relatively unknown, meaning he struggled to get the support he needed.
Lesser men might have buckled. Mr Swankie knuckled down and campaigned for greater awareness and has now been credited with helping to secure Scottish Government funding for a new development worker. His strength is an inspiration.