Gordon Aikman surpasses £500,000 mark in MND fundraising drive

A motor neurone disease (MND) patient and campaigner has raised more than £500,000 for research into a cure for the condition.

Gordon Aikman, former policy chief at the Better Together campaign, was diagnosed with the disease in 2014 at the age of 29.

He founded GordonsFightback.com soon after his diagnosis to raise funds for research and lobby for better care for people with the condition.

His campaign has received almost 6,000 donations following a series of fundraising events including comedy shows, marathons, pub quizzes and bake sales.

Mr Aikman said he was “immensely proud” to know research is happening to bring forward the day “we live in a world free from MND”.

He added: “It might be too late for me but by investing in research we can, we must and we will find a cure for future generations.”

Iain McWhirter, head of fundraising at MND Scotland, said: “We cannot thank Gordon enough for everything he has achieved in the past two years for the MND community.

“To have now reached his fundraising target of raising £500,000 for MND Scotland is outstanding.

“All the money Gordon has raised will go towards helping us continue to find a cure for this devastating illness – together we can make this happen.”

Mr Aikman celebrated the milestone outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh on Monday with large helium balloons spelling out “500,000”.

_{Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2016, All Rights Reserved. Pictured: Motor neurone disease (MND) patient and campaigner Gordon Aikman (front centre), alongside his ‘Fight Back’ team and fellow MND campaigners, as they celebrate raising half a million pounds for research into a cure for the fatal condition, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (c) Jane Barlow / PA Wire.}