The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Gordon’s legacy must be honoured, MPs told
Gordon Aikman’s legacy must be honoured by doubling funding for research into the disease that killed him, MPs have been told.
The prominent motor neurone disease (MND) campaigner, who raised more than £500,000 with his “Gordon’s Fightback” campaign, died on February 3. He was 31.
Ian Murray, Labour MP for Edinburgh South, led a debate in the House of Commons following Mr Aikman’s funeral held in Edinburgh at the weekend.
Mr Murray said that, despite the Kirkcaldy-born activist’s relentless work to double public investment from its current level of £5 million, MND research still relies heavily on the support and contributions of the voluntary sector.
He said: “Gordon had a nickname when he worked at the Scottish Parliament.
“It was 14%. Why? Because when he worked as a researcher for the Scottish Labour Party he was responsible for 14% of all freedom of information requests that were submitted to the Scottish Government.
“But tonight, Mr Speaker, I want us to change Gordon’s nickname. I want us to change his nickname from 14% to 100%.
“We can do that by doubling the annual research budget for MND from £5m to £10m.
“Mr Speaker, in life, Gordon gave a voice to MND patients.
“In death, Gordon’s own voice speaks on. It speaks on in the words that he wrote, in the things he achieved, in the lives that he touched.”