A SAUCHIE ambulance technician has organised a charity run from Stirling Castle to Edinburgh Castle in memory of his dad.

Gregor Miller, a Scottish Ambulance Service technician at Glenrothes Station, has organised the charity run to raise awareness of Motor Neuron Disease (MND) after losing his dad Campbell to the disease.

He set up the Castle Crusade run last year and has been in training since October 2020, with the run originally meant to be held on March 28 this year.

With safety precautions in place, it will now take place on May 23.

Gregor is raising money for My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, MND Scotland and the Euan Macdonald Centre after losing his dad to MND two years ago.

Campbell was a police officer, serving the Alloa and Falkirk areas during his time on the force.

Gregor said: "My inspiration for this event has come from losing my dad to this disease. My dad was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in May 2017 and passed away in 2019.

"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."

Gregor said his mum became his dad's full time carer and said in the last few months, his dad – who was a police 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.

He 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 ok 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."

Due to the current Covid-19 restrictions, the public will not be able to take part in the run, and at any one time only four people will run the route.

Gregor will run the entire 40 miles with Ryan Stevenson of Hearts FC, while the other two slots will be filled by other sporting legends such as Colin Cameron, Simon Ramsden, Tam McManus and more will dip in and out every four miles.

Visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/CastleCrusadeRun to find out more or to donate to Gregor's fundraiser.