Doddie’s £100k to help MND sufferers holiday in Oban
Oban’s McCaig’s Tower was lit up in blue on Thursday June 21 for Global MND Awareness Day and MND Scotland, a charity supporting people affected by Motor Neurone Disease.
Following his diagnosis a year ago, former Scotland rugby player Doddie Weir started the My Name’s Doddie Foundation to fund research into the terminal disease and donated £100,000 to MND Scotland’s grants scheme during its awareness week. The charity runs a fully adapted holiday chalet in Tralee Bay near Oban.
Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a rapidly progressing terminal illness, which stops signals from the brain reaching the muscles. This may cause someone to lose the ability to walk, talk, eat, drink or breathe unaided. There is currently no cure or effective treatment for MND and the average life expectancy from diagnosis is just 20 months.
Doddie said: ‘The generosity and support we have received since we launched the My Name’s Doddie Foundation has been incredible.’
MND Scotland offers three different grants to people affected by the illness in Scotland. The grants can be used in various ways such as paying for equipment or adaptations to someone’s home; for power of attorney fees; taxis to appointments or to allow a family to have their last holiday together.
Jim Grant, 75, from Edinburgh, who was diagnosed with MND in January 2000, has received grants from MND Scotland. He said: ‘I used MND Scotland’s grants towards the cost of the ramp built outside my home. Without it I would be house-bound.
‘I have also used the charity’s grants for breaks away. Sometimes I go to Leuchie House with the grants, where I can receive 24-hour care. This means Janet can take a break from caring for me full-time and get a holiday of her own, which is very important.’