45th Anniversary of MND Scotland

That the Parliament recognises that 23 June 2026 marks the 45th anniversary of the founding of MND Scotland; notes that, in 1981, police officer John Macleod founded the Scottish MND Association in his living room, two years after he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND), aged 33; further notes that the charity was renamed MND Scotland in 2009; recognises that the organisation now supports hundreds of people living with MND, which is a rapidly progressing terminal illness that stops signals from the brain reaching the muscles, often leading to the loss of the ability to walk, talk, eat, drink or breathe; acknowledges that the average life expectancy from diagnosis is around 18 months; notes that awareness of MND has never been higher and that MND Scotland is investing millions of pounds in cutting-edge research; recognises that, after 45 years of progress, almost everyone in Scotland living with MND can now take part in pioneering clinical trials, and commends the efforts of MND Scotland and its supporters in caring for those affected by MND.