Couple win special award for their work
Muscular Dystrophy UK
A Whitburn couple have been given a Lifetime Achievement award for their dedication to raising awareness of musclewasting conditions.
Jeff and Joan Wight devoted themselves to campaigning and raising funds for Muscular Dystrophy UK for three decades after their son Stephen was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Stephen sadly passed away earlier this year.
The couple made regular appearances at the Scottish Parliament to campaign for better adult social care and support in Scotland. Mr Wight has also been a member of the Muscular Dystrophy UK Scottish Council, which steers the charity’s work in Scotland, for 15 years.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy causes muscles to weaken and waste over time, leading to increasing and severe disability. Most of those affected will use a wheelchair by the age of 12 and will face life-threatening health problems by their late teens. The couple were recognised at Muscular Dystrophy UK’s Inspire Awards during the charity’s annual ceremony at the Golden Jubilee Conference Hotel in Glasgow earlier this month.
Presenting the Wights with the award, Jackie Baillie MSP praised their campaigning work, saying: “Jeff and Joan’s son Stephen was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy when he was six years old. Over the next 30 years, the pair have been fundraisers, voices in Parliament at Cross Party Group meetings and, in Jeff’s case, a member of our Scottish Council for no less than 15 years. We would like to thank them deeply and sincerely for all they have done.
“We also remember Stephen, who passed away earlier this year, a young man of independent spirit of whom his parents are immensely proud. Jeff and Joan Wight are truly deserving winners of Muscular Dystrophy UK’s Lifetime Achievement Award.”
Dean Widd, Muscular Dystrophy UK’s regional development manager for Scotland, added: “The Wights have worked with us for an incredible 30 years, and have helped raise awareness and vital funds for research as part of their fight to support Stephen. We are very happy to be able to recognise all of their hard work.”