Charity castle run in memory of dad who died of MND

A man has organised a charity run from Stirling Castle to Edinburgh Castle to raise awareness of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) after losing his dad to the incurable condition.

Gregor Miller, a Scottish Ambulance Service technician, set up the Castle Crusade fundraiser last year and has been in training since October.

The event was scheduled to take place on March 28 this year, but has been postponed until May 23 with safety precautions in place due to the pandemic.

Mr Miller, from Sauchie, Clackmannanshire, will be joined by a whole host of sporting legends, including Ryan Stevenson, Colin Cameron, Simon Ramsden, Tam McManus, Willie Conquer and Scott Hastings.

All money raised will be donated to My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, MND Scotland and the Euan Macdonald Centre.

Mr Miller, who lost his ex-policeman dad Campbell to MND two years ago, said: “He was a keen sportsman and played football for the police and in later life, until his diagnosis, played golf three times a week.

“Dad only realised he had a problem when he could no longer grip a golf club. As you could imagine this hit him hard.

“Within a few months he had to retire the clubs, quickly followed by his driving licence. For a man who was never at home due to social events, this was a devastating blow.

“Living with MND and caring for a sufferer of MND was horrific. Dad was given two years to live and died within two weeks of the two years.”

Mr Miller’s dad, who was an officer for 32 years in the then Central Scotland force, lost full power of his arms, legs and the ability to hold up his head.

Mr Miller, who cared for him alongside his mum, added: “There were some really tough days at this point as his mind was fully active along with his eyes. I would chat to him and tell him it’s all okay and that mum will be alright.

“He cried but never complained. This was hard to watch from a son’s point of view who only ever knew a dad that tried to win at everything physical.

“In the last month his pain became increasingly worse, he was unable to eat solid food and lost his speech to a difficult whisper. MND had won and with pain relief he slept and died.”

Despite this, Mr Miller said his dad kept his sense of humour throughout, always had a smile and never asked “why me?”