45th Anniversary Appeal

MND Scotland has been here to make time count since 1981

Since 1981, MND Scotland has been here for everyone affected by motor neuron disease across Scotland, and we will continue to be here for as long as the MND community needs us.

MND Scotland is here to make time count.

To mark this anniversary, and mark Global MND Awareness Day on 21 June, we are sharing the faces of MND. People who are living with the disease, those affected and, sadly, some of the people we have lost.

For 45 years, we have had the privilege of telling the stories of people affected by MND.

Claire Berry

Speaking about MND, Claire said: “There’s a lot of things I’ve lost the ability to do and that brings with it upset and frustration, but I try to focus on what I still manage. You learn to adapt and overcome the daily challenges and find new ways of doing things. Even on the hard days, I’m kept busy and push on to provide the kids with what they need to get through, but I do believe it’s important to show emotions and talking openly about how we’re all feeling as being honest helps us work through the difficulties”.

Read Claire's Story

Mark Ferguson

Sharing his outlook on life after living with MND for 7 months, Mark said: “After my diagnosis I swore to live my life as it should be lived, and I wanted to help people also despite being ill. I heard a quote once that said, ‘Society becomes great when old men plant trees they shall never sit under’ and that really struck a chord with me, so if I can help anyone with MND I will, just as I have had help from people with MND also.”

Read Mark's Story

Moira Gilmour

Reflecting on her MND diagnosis, Moira said: “It’s a very tough thing to hear that you might only have a matter of months left to live, but if I could go back in time, I would have listened to the doctor and I would have encouraged myself to go on more holidays, like visiting Jimmy’s daughter in Canada. But it took us 6 months to get our heads around it and by that time I was more disabled so it became difficult to start planning holidays.”

Read Moira's Story

Michael Cole

Speaking about his MND diagnosis, Michael said: “Having been so active, I found the limitations forced upon me by having MND very frustrating. Although MND has caused my stability and voice to deteriorate, I’m free of other symptoms. However, the indirect consequences of having MND have had a greater impact on my life and on the lives of members of my family, especially for my wife Anne, who has assumed the role of his sole carer.”

Read Michael's Story

Lucy Lintott-Smith

Reflecting on her MND diagnosis, Lucy said: "I was just 19 when I was diagnosed with MND on 19th November 2013. Looking back, the symptoms had been creeping in for about a year, but it wasn’t until I finally saw a neurologist that things moved quickly. Within a week, I had an MND diagnosis – words that would change my life forever."

Read Lucy's Story

Mert Zorlu

Mert's wife, Frances, said: “Mert’s attitude is amazing. He says ‘at least I know what is wrong with me now, and I’ll just learn to cope’. He’s very sociable and loves to meet with friends, going on holiday and visiting the family in Turkey. He has always been very fit and healthy which is why it was a shock to us all when he was diagnosed with MND. We are very much family-orientated and we all adore Mert. We received a lot of support from MND nurse Helen Lennox, Dr Anderson and MND Scotland who helped sort out the benefits and grants we were able to access."

Read Mert's Story

Our history

In 1981, police officer John Macleod founded the Scottish MND Association from his living room, two years after he was diagnosed with motor neuron disease (MND) aged 33.

Supported by his loving wife Peigi, their family, friends and John’s police colleagues, a new charity was constituted on 23 June 1981, aiming to provide support for others going through this brutal disease.

Today, MND Scotland supports hundreds of people living with MND. Awareness of MND has never been higher and we are investing millions of pounds in cutting-edge MND research.

1981

Scottish Motor Neuron Disease Association was founded by PC John Macleod.

1981

1982

First service was developed and our first investment into MND research.

1982

1984

First nurse was recruited to care for people with MND.

1984

1989

Moved into our first official headquarters.

1989

1994

Increased the number of MND nurses in Scotland.

1994

2002

The first drug for MND, Riluzole, becomes available through the NHS.

2009

We change our name to MND Scotland.

2009

2014

The viral Ice Bucket Challenge phenomenon changed the face of fundraising forever and hugely increased global awareness of MND/ALS.

2014

2015

Gordon Aikman, MND campaigner, launched Gordon’s Fightback, successfully campaigns to double number of MND nurses and ensures they are funded from the public purse instead of by MND Scotland.

2015

2016

The right to communicate aids, free of charge from the NHS, becomes law.

2016

2018

First MND drug trial in 20 years and fairer fast-tracking rules for Scottish-social security benefits become law.

2018

2020

Launch of UK’s biggest MND drug trial in a generation - MND-SMART with £1.5 million investment from MND Scotland.

2020

2022

We launch an ambitious three-year strategy and new brand identity.

A £4.25 million grant kick starts UK-wide effort to end MND. Read about it here.

TRUST (Terazosin Repurposing Study in ALS) begins, initial funding provided by MND Scotland helped get Terazosin from lab bench to trial. Read more here.

2022

2023

We created our first TV Advert - View it here.

2023

2024

MND Scotland launches LEARN, the Lived Experience and Researcher Network, to connect people with MND and researchers. Read about it here.

2024

2025

The Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) grants marketing authorisation for tofersen, a new drug for the treatment of SOD1 motor neuron disease (MND). Read more about it here.

2025

2026

MND Scotland celebrates its 45th anniversary.

2026

Forty-five years of progress has meant that almost everyone living with MND in Scotland can now take part in pioneering clinical trials to find new medical treatments.

Thank you for 45 years of support

We can’t thank our supporters enough for the generous donations and fundraising over the last 45 years.

From bake sales to cold water dips, marathons to ziplines, treks to firewalks. Thank you for choosing to support us.

MND Scotland is able to make time count for the MND community in Scotland because of you.

Please continue to support us with a donation in our 45th year.

Donate today.

What your
donation can do

What could £10 support?

£10 could help us keep in touch with people with MND, provide information, and even arrange practical support to make living with MND easier.

What could £50 support?

£50 could help our Advocacy team to resolve issues many people with MND are experiencing, and take stress away from them and their family.

What could £100 support?

£100 could bolster our efforts to fund world-leading MND clinical trials which aim to develop new treatments to fight back against MND.

Donate by post

Please send a cheque payable to 'MND Scotland' to: MND Scotland, 6th Floor, Merchant Exchange, 20 Bell Street, Glasgow, G1 1LG.

Please include a note with your full name, address and details of your donation, so we can thank you.

Donate by phone

Call us on 0141 332 3903 to make your donation.

Please have your credit or debit card to hand.

Bank Transfer

You can transfer money straight from your bank account to ours or deposit the money at any Bank of Scotland branch.

Please contact us for bank details and a reference code.

Have a question? Contact us for more information.

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45th Anniversary Appeal

Since 1981, MND Scotland has been here for everyone affected by motor neuron disease across Scotland, and we will continue to be here for as long as the MND community needs us.

MND Scotland is here to make time count.

To mark this anniversary, and mark Global MND Awareness Day on 21 June, we are sharing the faces of MND. People who are living with the disease, those affected and, sadly, some of the people we have lost.

For 45 years, we have had the privilege of telling the stories of people affected by MND.

Claire Berry

Mark Ferguson

Moira Gilmour

Michael Cole

Lucy Lintott-Smith

Mert Zorlu

Our history

In 1981, police officer John Macleod founded the Scottish MND Association from his living room, two years after he was diagnosed with motor neuron disease (MND) aged 33.

Supported by his loving wife Peigi, their family, friends and John’s police colleagues, a new charity was constituted on 23 June 1981, aiming to provide support for others going through this brutal disease.

Today, MND Scotland supports hundreds of people living with MND. Awareness of MND has never been higher and we are investing millions of pounds in cutting-edge MND research.

1981

1982

1984

1989

1994

2002

2009

2014

2015

2016

2018

2020

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

Forty-five years of progress has meant that almost everyone living with MND in Scotland can now take part in pioneering clinical trials to find new medical treatments.

Thank you for 45 years of support

We can’t thank our supporters enough for the generous donations and fundraising over the last 45 years.

From bake sales to cold water dips, marathons to ziplines, treks to firewalks. Thank you for choosing to support us.

MND Scotland is able to make time count for the MND community in Scotland because of you.

Please continue to support us with a donation in our 45th year.

Donate today.

Make a donation

What your donation can do

What could £10 support?

What could £50 support?

What could £100 support?

Donate by post

Donate by phone

Bank Transfer

Before you go

What your
donation can do