MND Campaign Hits £250k

A host of comedians performed at a fundraising gala last night in aid of a Kirkcaldy man's campaign to fight Motor Neurone Disease.

Frankie Boyle, Stewart Francis and Fred MacAuley performed at the sellout gig in Glasgow to help MND campaigner Gordon Aikman smash his target of raising £250,000 for research into the disease.
 
In an emotional speech to the sell-out crowd of 1,700 people, Mr Aikman also announced that he will be doubling his fundraising target to £500,000.  He urged people to donate what they can to fund a cure by texting “MNDS85 £5” to 70070 or visiting gordonsfightback.com. 
 
Speaking at last night’s “Stand up for MND:  Gordon’s Fightback” comedy gala, Gordon Aikman said: “Tonight has been unbelievable.  To have such huge stars helping to fund a cure means a lot to me, but more importantly, it means we can cure MND faster.

“Thanks to the generosity of everyone who has got behind my campaign we are £250,000 closer to curing this terrible disease.

“A quarter of a million pounds is a huge amount of money, but I’m just getting started.  I’m doubling my target to £500,000.    
“MND is a death sentence for me, but with your help we can help find a cure for future generations.” 

Comedian Stewart Francis said:  “To see what Gordon is achieving in the face of his diagnosis is absolutely inspirational.

“This guy has raised £250,000 so that one day people won’t have to go through this terrible disease.  That’s incredible.”
 
Fred MacAulay, said: “Everyone had a great laugh, but most of all, we raised some serious money to fund a cure for Motor Neurone Disease.

“The only way we’ll make this terrible disease history is if people keep on donating so get onto gordonsfightback.com and give what you can.” 

Sarah Watson, Festival Manager for the Glasgow International Comedy Festival, said: “We’re so happy to support the fantastic work of Gordon’s Fightback and MND Scotland.

“Everyone who bought a ticket and donated at the show has made a real difference, but we can’t stop there.

“I hope that after tonight other people out there will feel inspired to do something to support the fightback against MND.”
 
Iain McWhirter, Head of Fundraising and Volunteering at MND Scotland, said: “Events like this are really important not only to MND Scotland but the whole MND community.

“All the performers, Sarah and her team at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival put together something really special.  Tonight we raised awareness and we raised serious money to help the fight against MND. 

“The more awareness we raise and the more fundraising events we have, the closer we will get to one day making this horrible disease history.”