Gordon Aikman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gordon Aikman
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| Born | 2 April 1985 Kirkcaldy, Scotland
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| Died | 2 February 2017 (aged 31) |
| Education | Kirkcaldy High School University of Edinburgh |
| Occupation | Political researcher, campaigner |
Gordon Lewis Aikman was a brave Scottish campaigner. He worked as a researcher for political groups. During the Scottish Independence Referendum campaign, he was diagnosed with a serious illness. This illness was called motor neurone disease (MND).
Gordon decided to fight back against MND. He successfully convinced the Scottish Government to double the number of special MND nurses. These nurses help people with the disease. He also raised over £500,000 for medical research. This money helps scientists look for a cure.
Contents
Who Was Gordon Aikman?
Early Life and Education
Gordon Aikman was born in Kirkcaldy, Scotland. He went to Kirkcaldy High School. There, he was chosen as the head boy. This is a special leadership role.
After high school, he studied Business at the University of Edinburgh. In 2007, students at the university elected him. He became a student officer. His job was to help students with their well-being and clubs.
Working in Politics
After finishing university, Gordon worked at the Scottish Parliament. He was a researcher for the Scottish Labour Party. Later, he became a press officer. This meant he helped share news and information.
In 2012, he got an important job. He became the Director of Research for the Better Together campaign. This campaign was part of the Scottish Independence Referendum. This was a big vote about Scotland's future.
Fighting Motor Neurone Disease
Gordon's Diagnosis
In June 2014, Gordon received some difficult news. He was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND). This illness is also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). MND is a serious condition that affects the brain and nerves. It makes muscles weaker over time. Gordon first noticed something was wrong when his fingers felt numb.
Launching His Campaign
After his diagnosis, Gordon quickly started a campaign. He called it the "Five-Point Fightback." He wanted more money for research into MND. He hoped this research would help find a cure.
His campaign quickly gained support. People from different political groups helped him. They all wanted to support his important cause.
Making a Difference
In November 2014, Gordon met with Nicola Sturgeon. She was Scotland's First Minister. After their meeting, Ms. Sturgeon promised to review MND care in Scotland.
Later, she announced good news. The NHS in Scotland would start paying for specialist MND nurses. They would also double the number of these nurses. This was a huge success for Gordon's campaign.
By June 2016, Gordon had raised £500,000 for MND research. In March 2015, he reached £250,000. This happened after a comedy show in Glasgow. Famous comedians like Frankie Boyle performed. The show raised £25,000 from ticket sales.
Sharing His Story
Gordon wrote articles about his campaign. He also shared his personal journey with MND. These articles were published in major Scottish newspapers. These included The Scotsman, Daily Record, and The Herald. In 2017, he wrote a monthly column. This was in the Scottish edition of The Sunday Times.
Special Recognition
Gordon Aikman received many awards for his work:
- In November 2014, he won a Judges' Award. This was at the Scottish Politician of the Year awards.
- He received the Daily Record Our Heroes Award. He shared this with another MND campaigner, Lucy Lintott.
- In July 2015, the University of Edinburgh gave him an honorary doctorate. This is a special degree. Gordon also gave a speech to graduating medical students.
- He won a Kingdom FM Award in August 2015.
- In November 2015, he was named Campaigner of the Year. This was also at the Scottish Politician of the Year awards.
- He received the British Empire Medal (BEM) in 2015. This was for his work raising awareness and money for MND research.
- In May 2017, he was named Columnist of the Year. This was at the Scottish Press Awards.
- He won the People's Choice Award in June 2017. This was at the Scottish Charity Awards.
- In 2018, the George Square Theatre was renamed. It became the Gordon Aikman Lecture Theatre. This was to honor his campaigning. Former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown gave the first lecture there.
- In June 2021, a ScotRail train was named after him.
Gordon's Legacy
Gordon Aikman passed away on February 2, 2017. He was 31 years old. His work greatly helped people with motor neurone disease. He left a lasting impact on MND care and research in Scotland.
