Party leaders pull together to end MND

Party leaders from across political lines have joined together at the Scottish Parliament to renew their support for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and the charity MND Scotland.

On 17th June, MND Scotland launched its new hard-hitting campaign ‘Imagine a World Without MND’, which prompts members of the public to imagine what it’s like to live with Motor Neurone Disease, and to take action to end MND forever.

The charity has been touring Scotland’s rail network, advertising on trains and in stations, and have been calling on supporters to take the message as far as possible.

As well as this, MND Scotland brought its campaign to the Scottish Parliament and held a reception on Tuesday 18th June, hosted by Bob Doris MSP with ministerial speaker Christina McKelvie MSP.

Now Scottish party leaders have joined the movement by pulling together to upend the letters M.N.D. to spell out E.N.D. in an effort to support the charity’s vision of a world without MND.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

“I’m very pleased to be able to support MND Scotland’s campaign to end Motor Neurone Disease and the terrible impact it has on people and families.

“The Scottish Government has doubled the number of MND specialist nurses, extended free personal care to all those who need it, and committed more than £575,000 for MND research.

“We want to ensure that people living with neurological conditions have access to the best possible care and support, so they can live their life well on their own terms. Over the past year we have worked with the neurological community including people with lived experience, third sector organisations and healthcare professionals to develop Scotland’s first National Action Plan on Neurological Conditions that will be published later this year.”

Craig Stockton, Chief Executive of MND Scotland, said:

“We greatly appreciate the party leaders taking the time to reaffirm their support and join our campaign.

“MND is unimaginable. It robs people of some of the most precious moments in life. Imagine not being able to reach out and hug the ones you love, or not being able to read your little one a bedtime story. Imagine.

“However, it’s going to take more than imagination to find a cure and to end MND forever. That’s why we’re calling on the nation to join us and help us to not just imagine a world without MND, but to make it a reality. To donate £3 to MND Scotland text IMAGINE to 70660 or visit www.mndscotland.org.uk/imagine.”