Inspirational MND sufferer Lucy hailed for Fighting Spirit
● Dinner held as tribute to campaigner Gordon Aikman
The youngest person with Motor Neurone Disease in Scotland has been presented with the first “Fighting Spirit” award in honour of campaigner Gordon Aikman who died from the illness in 2017.
Last night’s “Gordon’s Fightback Dinner” event at Prestonfield House in Edinburgh, on Global MND Awareness Day, was hosted by rugby legends Doddie Weir – who was diagnosed with the condition last year – and Scott Hastings with Deacon Blue’s Ricky Ross playing live.
The award recognises someone’s inspirational contribution to the fightback against MND. This year the accolade was presented to Lucy Lintott, 24, from Moray. who was first diagnosed with MND when she was just 19 years old. After receiving the devastating diagnosis, Lucy decided to live her life to fullest, and her positive attitude and drive to raiseawarenessandfundshas touched many.
She said: “I’m honoured to get the Fightback Spirit award. Gordon and I have received many awards together over the years, so getting one named in memory of him, is very surreal.”
Lawrence Cowan, chairman of MND Scotland and friend of Gordon Aikman’s said: “Lucy is an inspiration to us all.
“Herapproachtolife,theway she is helping raise awareness of the condition and her fundraising are just incredible.
0 Award-winner Lucy Lintott with Doddie Weir, right, and Lawrence Cowan Lucy has raised over £170,000 to support people and fund a cure for MND. The way she has also opened up her life to raise awareness of the condition through the media and in her recent documentary “MND and 22-year-old me” is beyond courageous. She is a leading light of the fightback against MND and it is an absolute honour to present her with this award.”
On average almost 200 people are diagnosed each year in Scotland, 53 per cent die within one year of diagnosis and 6.5 per cent live for more than five years after diagnosis.
Doddie Weir, who presented Lucy with the award, and hosted the live auction, said: “It is fantastic to meet Lucy, something I have been wanting to do since watching her incredibly honest and moving documentary about her life with MND. Lucy has taken a devastating diagnosis and turned it into a positive – her fundraising efforts and work to educate people about Motor Neurone Disease is inspiring and an example to us all.
“I am humbled and delighted to present her with this award, while also recognising the huge contribution Gordon made to the fight against this horrendous disease.”