Dad finds out he's dying after spotting an unusual symptom while playing golf

02 May 2023 , 10:38
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Gregor Miller with his late dad Campbell (Image: Edinburgh Live WS)
Gregor Miller with his late dad Campbell (Image: Edinburgh Live WS)

A bus driver is taking on an epic running challenge in memory of his dad who found out he was dying after noticing a symptom on the golf course.

Gregor Miller will be taking on '5 bonkers runs in 5 months' to raise awareness of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) that ultimately claimed his dad's life.

His dad Campbell first realised something was wrong after his grip on his golf club was different.

He was soon told he only had two years to live due to MND and passed away in 2019.

Since then Gregor has raised thousands of pounds for the Doddie Weir Foundation and his latest fundraising mission challenge will see him do a 51 mile run on Sunday, Edinburgh Live reports.

Kevin Sinfield goes extra mile for MND sufferers as he brings hope to Rob Burrow eiqrqikiqhxinvKevin Sinfield goes extra mile for MND sufferers as he brings hope to Rob Burrow

The challenge also includes a half-marathon in Inverness, a full marathon Manchester, the 51 miles run this week, a 100 mile run around the University of Stirling's running track and a staggering 160 mile in 40 hours run from Inverness to Tynecastle Stadium in Edinburgh which will take him two days.

Gregor Miller, said: "So we have lived with MND and the disaster that is causes, Doddie Weir was diagnosed six months after my dad who sadly passed away. I decided I really didn't like running and decided to have a wee challenge."

The money this time will not go to one charity, not two but three different charities; MND Scotland, My Name'5 Doddie Foundation and the University of Edinburgh's, Euan MacDonald Centre.

"I am really after as much help and as much support as I can to try and get the word out there and try to raise awareness for the three charities. The causes mean so much to me and my family and I just hope I've got the energy at my sage to fulfill it."

In 2021, Gregor ran from Stirling Castle to Edinburgh Castle in a 36 mile long journey and raised over £20,000 but now he is back and ready to do it all over again, bigger and better than ever to raise money for the awareness of MND.

The 51-year-old went onto talk about his dad: "My dad was an avid golfer and that is how he found out he had Motor Neurone Disease, he played golf three or even four times a week when he retired from the police service."

"He found out he couldn't grip his club any longer and the health professionals thought it was carpal tunnel disease."

After a physio pointed out that he should go and see a specialist they were told the devastating news of his dad's diagnosis and he only had two years to live.

Gregor's dad started to go down hill and feel the full effects of the disease, he went onto talk about that and said: "It is tough to see someone that who played lots of sport be like this, my dad played football, he played golf and he was a good runner."

"I certainly will be thinking of him on the 1st of October when I finish my events because I planned that for then because that is his birthday."

'Healthy looking lad's' MND symptoms dismissed by docs who refused to do tests'Healthy looking lad's' MND symptoms dismissed by docs who refused to do tests

You can donate to Gregor's fundraiser for MND here.

Steven Brown

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