David Thomson, Lead Huntington’s Disease Clinical Specialist Nurse and Motor Neurone Disease Specialist Nurse in the Neurology Department at Forth Valley Royal Hospital, recently laced up his running shoes for a cause close to his heart.
Having supported people living with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and their families for more than seven years, David took on the challenge of running the Edinburgh Half Marathon on Sunday 25th May to raise funds for the Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research. To date, David has raised £750, smashing his original target of £500.
Speaking after the event, David said: “The search for a cure to Motor Neurone Disease is very close to my heart, so to do my bit, I decided to run the Edinburgh Half Marathon to raise money for the Euan MacDonald Centre.”
Despite strong winds and aching legs, David completed the route in good spirits:
“I’m still a bit sore from Sunday but at least it was dry, and I missed the torrential downpours that hit some runners later in the day. The morning run in the sun, along with 40-mile gusts of wind through Edinburgh and out to Musselburgh, was lovely.”
With his sights already set on the Strathcarron 10K later this year, David plans to continue running and raising awareness of MND.
The Euan MacDonald Centre, based at the University of Edinburgh, carries out vital research into MND — a progressive condition that leads to muscle weakness, paralysis, and difficulties with speech, swallowing and breathing. Every donation helps fund efforts to find treatments to slow, stop, or even reverse the effects of this devastating disease.
