Gordon Aikman

Gordon Aikman BEM (born 2 April 1985) is a Motor Neurone Disease campaigner and former Director of Research for Better Together.

Early Life & Career

Gordon Aikman studied at Kirkcaldy High School where he was Head Boy, and read Business at the University of Edinburgh. In 2007, he was elected as the sabbatical officer responsible for welfare and student societies in the Edinburgh University Students' Association.^[1] After graduation he worked at the Scottish Parliament for the Scottish Labour Party.^[1] In September 2012, he was appointed as Director of Research^[1] for the Better Together campaign in the Scottish Independence Referendum.

MND Campaigning

Aikman was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease - a degenerative neurological condition - in June 2014 and wrote about this in The Scotsman.^[2][3] He had initially complained of persistent numb fingers. Since his diagnosis he launched a 'Five-Point Fightback' campaign calling for increased research funding to help find a cure for MND. He also called for specialist MND nurses in Scotland to paid for by the NHS and not by charitable donations. The campaign also included a demand to fast-track welfare payments for those with MND.^[4][5]

His campaign was launched soon after his diagnosis and has drawn support from across the UK political spectrum.^{[6][7][8][9][10][11]}

After meeting Gordon Aikman in November 2014, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced that there would be a review of Motor Neurone Disease care in Scotland.^[12] Nicola Sturgeon later announced she was honouring her promise to Gordon Aikman and that the NHS in Scotland would begin to fund specialist nursing, and double the number of MND specialist nurses.^[13]

Fundraising

As of December 2015, Aikman has raised over £400,000 for Motor Neurone Disease research.^[14] A Glasgow International Comedy Festival event featuring Frankie Boyle, Stewart Francis and Fred MacAulay in March 2015 raised £25,000.^[15]

Writing

He has written about his campaigning work and personal journey with MND for The Scotsman, Daily Record and The Herald.^[16] He now writes a monthly column in the Scottish edition of The Sunday Times.^[17]

Recognition

Aikman won the Judges' Award at the Scottish Politician of the Year awards in November 2014, and Campaigner of the Year in the 2015 ceremony.^[18] In May 2015, he was awarded the Daily Record's Our Heroes Award alongside fellow campaigner Lucy Lintott.^[19] He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Edinburgh in July 2015^[20] and made the commencement address to graduating medical students.^[21] In the Queen's Birthday Honours List 2015,^[22] Aikman was awarded the British Empire Medal 'for services to Motor Neurone Disease Awareness and Research'.

References