Edinburgh Family Hosts 10th Football Fundraiser

Linda Courtney (56), from Edinburgh, and her family are fundraising for MND Scotland, in memory of her husband, Kevin, who passed away from MND when he was just 46 years old.

Kevin was diagnosed with the progressive terminal illness in 2006 and passed away just two years later in February 2008.

Since then, family and friends have come together to raise funds in Kevin’s memory and 2018 marks the 10th year of the ‘Kevin Courtney Football Fundraiser’.

Kevin, who was a big Celtic fan, played for football teams from a young age. His passion grew and he started coaching local youth teams, including Newcraighall and Cleekim, until he was no longer well enough.

Now the Courtney family organise an annual football tournament, where two teams, led by Kevin and Linda’s sons, Kevin Jr (34) and Grant (29), compete against each other to raise money for MND Scotland. The teams are made up of his old team mates and the now fully-grown kids that Kevin once coached.

The fundraiser will take place on Saturday 21st July at Jewel Playing Fields in Duddingston, at 1.30pm. The fun family day out will also include face painting, a bouncy castle and more. Later the family will hold a gathering of close family and friends, with an auction, disco, raffle and buffet to raise funds.

Linda, who works in social care for Edinburgh Council, said: “Everyone is welcome to come along and join the fun. It’s a great day out and all we ask for is a donation. I want to raise funds because MND Scotland is entirely reliant on voluntary funding to help provide care and support to people living with Motor Neurone Disease in Scotland, and also hopefully one day we will find a cure for this.

“While Kevin was facing MND, we received a lot of support from MND Scotland. Their grants allowed for us to get a wet room fitted and we also had a lot of help from the MND Clinical Specialists, which at the time, weren’t funded on the NHS.”

“Our friends and family have been so generous over the years and have done lots of things to raise money. Over the past 10 years we’ve raised around £10,000 and we cannot thank everyone enough for their support.

“My sons Kevin and Grant took part in the MND Scotland Fun Run at Holyrood Park last year with their sons; Reigan (5) and Braiden (5), in memory of their dad and grandad. My grandkids never got to meet their grandad so it’s nice they can do something to be connected to him. Other members of the family have also done the run and abseiled in Kevin’s memory. Any donations are grateful no matter how big or small.”

Iain McWhirter, MND Scotland’s Head of Fundraising, said: “We can’t thank the Courtney family enough for their longstanding support of MND Scotland with their annual charity football tournament.

“It’s because of people like Linda, Kevin Jr and Grant that we’re able to continue funding information, care and support services for people affected by MND in Scotland – as well as funding cutting-edge research into a cure.”

To find out more about the event email mndmemorialfundraiser@gmail.com.