In November 2022, after several years of experiencing symptoms, Michael Cole, 73, from Penicuik, Midlothian, was diagnosed with motor neuron disease (MND) – a brutal condition that affects hundreds of people across Scotland, robbing them of their strength and independence.   

Michael will participate in this year’s Edinburgh Marathon for first time together with his son Andrew who will push him along the whole route in a sports wheelchair. Michael will be running his seventh marathon, while Andrew will be participating in his third. Andrew has also completed several ultra marathons, including the West Highland Way twice. 

Both father and son hope to raise awareness about the disease and raise vital funds for MND Scotland to help other families affected by MND. Michael said: “I’m indebted to MND Scotland for many things, but I’m grateful for the entry to this year’s Edinburgh Marathon. My son Andrew will be pushing me, and I am really looking forward to it. Andrew ran it on his own last year when it rained a lot, so we’re hoping for better weather!”. 

When his father sadly died at the age of 58, Michael returned to his hometown of Dumfries to help with the family-run business – a soft furnishing company. Michael is married to Anne, and together, they worked alongside each other for over 48 years.   

During this time, Michael and Anne transformed the company into an upmarket interior design business, worked with some of the best manufacturers across the world and opened a second showroom for the business in Carlisle. 

Michael has always kept fit and active. He was a competitive swimmer at school and a member of the Dumfries Swimming Club – winning a Scottish Junior silver medal in the 100-metres butterfly stroke and many West District and Scottish School Championship medals.   

As a young adult, Michael enjoyed playing other sports including squash and for the best part of thirty years. He was a runner and took part in all sorts of events, cross-country runs, hill races, 10Ks, full and half marathons, long distance relays, and several multi-day events. He always competed with his fellow members of Dumfries Running Club, enjoying their camaraderie, as well as the competitiveness between them. He’s still proud of his personal best times: 78 minutes for a half marathon, and 2hours 58minutes for a full marathon.  

In his fifties, he returned to competitive swimming and won a Scottish Senior bronze medal for the 100-metres breaststroke, and in his sixties, as he reduced his running, he took up road cycling which he continued until his symptoms forced him to stop. 

For almost fifteen years, Michael pursued another passion – volunteering for the RSPB (The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), conducting Black Grouse surveys throughout the hills of Galloway Forest Park, performing general bird surveys on numerous farms in Dumfries and Galloway and working on the reintroduction of Red Kites to the region. 

 He continues to keep fit by going to his local gym: “My Personal Trainer, Jude Mothersole, is in his fourth year of a sports science degree at Napier University. He’s very encouraging and patient with me, making all kinds of allowances for my disabilities. In my view, keeping active is the difference between me maintaining my health’s status quo and simply giving in to MND and deteriorating at a rate of knots”. 

Speaking about his MND diagnosis, he 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.”    

“Because of my instability, walking is difficult. I’ve fallen a few times and damaged both shoulders which has resulted in some loss in the range of movement I have in my arms. It is these indirect consequences which have made life more difficult rather than the direct symptoms of the disease itself”. 

Living with MND may present many challenges for some, but Michael remains determined to showcase strength and resilience through his upbeat and positive attitude by tackling the disease head-on.   

Michael said: “At the centre of my life is of course my family. My father died of a heart attack when he was only 58, so I resolved to avoid a similar fate by always being active.”  

Last year, Michael’s son Andrew took part in the Edinburgh Marathon, raising over £2000 for MND Scotland.  

Since being founded over forty years ago, MND Scotland has provided practical, financial and emotional support to anyone affected by MND whilst also funding essential research into finding effective treatments and a cure.  MND Scotland is funded entirely by donations and grants. 

Michael joined Andrew for the Glasgow Half Marathon in October 2024 and was cheered on at the finish line by fellow runners from his Dumfries Running Club. 

This year, Michael and Andrew will participate in the Edinburgh Marathon Festival – a running festival over several distances, which takes place on 24th and 25th May. 

Starting on Holyrood Park Road, Edinburgh Marathon runners will pass through Surgeons’ Hall, the Festival Theatre, the historic Royal Mile, the Scottish Parliament and Palace of Holyrood. The challenge then heads east towards Musselburgh, and participants will pass the world’s oldest golf course before returning along the coast to the finish line. 

Jonathan Mitchell, Head of Fundraising for MND Scotland said: “We are so grateful to Michael and his family for their continued support to MND Scotland and joining us in our fight against MND by taking on the Edinburgh Marathon.” 

“The funds raised from this event will help fund vital MND research into treatments and a cure, and directly contribute to MND Scotland providing critical practical, financial, and emotional support to people affected by the condition.” 

“From all the team at MND Scotland, we want to say good luck to Michael and Andrew!”. 

If you would like to support father and son in their fundraising challenge by donating, please visit their JustGiving page.

For more information about MND Scotland, how we can support you or your family, or if you’re interested in taking on a fundraising challenge, please visit: www.mndscotland.org.uk, email: info@mndscotland.org.uk, or call: 0141 332 3903.