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Inverness school pupil raises £3,200 for MND charity

Gordon Aikman, 29, launched a five-point fightback plan after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease last year
Gordon Aikman, 29, launched a five-point fightback plan after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease last year

An Inverness primary school pupil has raised more than £3,300 for research into motor neurone disease after her granny was diagnosed with the debilitating condition.

Melissa Robertson, 11, was overwhelmed by the response after she organised a coffee morning at her home in the Westhill area of the city.

The Cradlehall Primary School pupil had only expected to raise about £200, but the total had topped £3,314 by yesterday afternoon – and donations were still coming in.

The youngster decided to hold the event for Motor Neurone Disease Scotland after her grandmother Betty Robertson, 68, was diagnosed with the illness, which progressively damages parts of the nervous system.

Melissa organised Saturday’s coffee morning herself, visiting many shops and businesses in and around Inverness to ask for raffle prizes.

She said: “It went really good, actually. We’ve made a total of £3,314.36 – but we’re still getting money coming in. I thought it was just going to be a couple of hundred pounds.

“My granny had recently been diagnosed with it and I thought I would do it for her, and to raise some money for it and to try and find a cure.

“Some of my granny’s church came along, as well as some of my parents’ friends and my friends, some people from my street – everyone.

“My family made some cakes. I’d like to thank the restaurants, shops, golf clubs and bakers for supporting us with raffle prizes, and my friends and family for coming along.

“My granny is really happy with me.”

Melissa said the success of the event had inspired her to continue raising money for the cause – and the sports-mad youngster is even hoping to run a marathon later this year.

Motor neurone disease (MND) has been brought into the public focus in recent months following high-profile cases, including former Rangers star Fernando Ricksen and Scottish Labour official Gordon Aikman.

Following a campaign, the NHS announced last year that it would begin to fund specialist MND nurses.

Mr Aikman has raised more than £100,000 for MND charities through his Gordon’s Fightback campaign, which is also calling for improvements in care for patients.