A FEW weeks ago I was putting in a shift behind the counter of the Scottish Sun annual charity Christmas shop, chatting with readers and posing for pictures.
Every time I made a sale, I’d take their money and thank them with the same heartfelt message: “Well done, it’s for a great cause.”
And then I learn the other day that the money raised for MND Scotland is going towards potentially groundbreaking trials.
More than £20,000 of £1.5million invested by the charity in the study was raised by you at our Sunta Store late last year.
What a wonderful feeling it is to know that a real difference can be made.
The MND-SMART trial aims to find treatments that can slow, stop or reverse the disease and will involve new and existing drugs.
Scotland rugby icon Doddie Weir, who has battled the muscle-wasting condition so bravely and movingly since 2017, urged fellow sufferers to sign up for the tests towards finding a cure for an illness which has claimed other sporting icons including Celtic great Jimmy Johnstone and Rangers idol Fernando Ricksen.
All told, the shop raised a staggering £40,513.80 which has been split between MND Scotland and Alzheimer Scotland.
But I’ll tell you what never ceases to amaze me — those who want to help the most are usually those who can least afford it.
Year after year I see it and it really does the heart proud.
We read about record poverty levels in parts of this country and how food bank use in on the increase, yet when it comes to finding a little bit of spare cash to put towards a good cause, the people of Scotland really are the salt of the earth.
Scottish Sun readers praised for helping fund drug trials aimed at tackling motor neurone disease
So many times I’ve witnessed baffling levels of generosity from people who might he poor in monetary terms, but when it comes to warmth and common decency towards their fellow human beings, they have a wealth that others could only dream of.
There’s the old cliche “hearts of gold” — but that’s exactly what they have.
I don’t know how just many charity events I’ve taken part in over the years — there have been countless celebrity football matches, golf tournaments.
I’ve even raised fortunes having my chest waxed!
I’m an ambassador for Battle Against Dementia (BAD) and another one that’s close to my heart is the John Hartson Foundation, raising testicular cancer awareness.
Then just last weekend I helped raise nearly £2,000 for the men’s mental health charities, the Shine On Shaun Foundation — in memory of the late Shaun Scott, who was part of my favourite Glasgow band, The Ronains — and the Kris Boyd Charity.
But there was something extra special about reading the news that these trials are about to start and The Scottish Sun shop contributed to the cost of making them happen.
Currently, more than 400 people in Scotland are living with MND and this trial will be open to almost every person in Scotland with the illness.
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MND Scotland is committed to bringing more trials to Scotland in 2020, and by investing £1.5million this pioneering research is now taking place.
This investment accounts for more than half of the charity’s annual turnover, highlighting the importance of the charity’s determined mission to find a cure.
It’s a long road ahead but anything that gives just a little bit of hope or cheer to the many thousands of people affected by this dreadful condition is a goo
It’s Gwyn, Win for Paltrow
I’LL be glued to The Goop Lab when it becomes available on Netflix from Friday — if only to see Gwyneth Paltrow trying out a rock ‘n’ roll orgasm.
As ideas for telly shows go, this one is right up there with the best. What’s not to like?
The Hollywood star explores an array of bizarre therapies in the wacky new series.
I can’t wait — let’s hope the six- parter builds up to an exciting climax.
Kids are getting ahead
EVERYONE is getting too hot under the collar over this issue of kids being banned from heading a football if they’re under 12.
The ban could be introduced by the SFA in the next few weeks, following new research about a possible link between football and the brain condition dementia.
But children that young shouldn’t be heading the ball anyway — they should be learning to control the ball, pass it and use both feet.
Heading shouldn’t really come into it, until they’re older and start to play a more physical 11-a-side version of the game.
In the meantime, sure, let them work on their technique with a softer sponge ball so that when they do have to header a proper ball in their teens, they’ll know what to do.
The technical side of the game has changed so much since the days when I was learning to play.
The ball spends far less time in the air — it’s all about keeping it on the deck, playing it out from the back along the ground rather than punting it up the park for strikers and defenders to clash over.
The report that has prompted the change looked at guys who played football many years ago, with old-style balls which were often heavier because they absorbed water — and they headed the ball a lot more.
I’m convinced, in years to come, we’ll see far fewer ex-players affected.
Charles must be a father
WHERE exactly is Prince Charles in this stand-off between Harry and Meghan and the rest of the Royals?
I can’t believe it was left to the Queen — at the age of 93 — to take control of this situation and chair crisis talks to prevent the family from being ripped apart.
Charles should get Harry and Wills in the same room and crack some heads together — but he appears to be happy to stay in the background and hope Mummy sorts it out.
No matter what age they are, children look to their parents for guidance and, in the absence of Diana, it’s up to Charles to take matters in hand and get his boys talking again.
But regardless of what happens, I think there’s one issue we are all agreed on.
If the Duke and Duchess of Sussex want to step away and be financially independent, they can pay for their own security.
Whether it’s Canada or the UK, it shouldn’t be up to the taxpayer to foot what will be a heavy bill.
BOJO right to refuse Indyref2 – SNP need to get on with the day job
MUST congratulate my fellow Scottish Sun columnist Bill Leckie for a fine piece calling for an end to talk of a possible IndyRef2.
I’m truly fed up of hearing that Prime Minister Boris Johnson is denying the people of Scotland the chance to go to the polls again and that flies in the face of democracy.
If someone can show me concrete evidence that the majority of Scots want to leave the UK, fine.
But they won’t be able to, because it doesn’t exist. I’ve said before — sort the schools, hospitals and roads because those are the issues we really care about. And they are all being neglected.
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