A DUNFERMLINE duo will be taking on the Kiltwalk in Edinburgh after their elder sister was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND). 

Margaret Bow, 43, a home carer and Annemarie Smith, 45, a paramedic, live miles away from their sister Chrissie, who is on the Isle of South Uist, in the Outer Hebrides, but wanted to give something back after feeling helpless. 

“She just got diagnosed last month and within a week we were signed up,” Margaret explained.

“Despite us both being carers, there is nothing we can do for her. We’re two carers that can’t care. 

“Chrissie has been getting tested the past couple of years. MND was one of the things the doctors mentioned but we kept hoping it wasn’t that.

“After finding it is that, we’re basically just crushed.”

Chrissie, who was also a carer, had to give up work a couple of years ago because of problems with her left arm. 

The muscles in her arm were weak and have deteriorated. 

MND is a fatal, rapidly-progressing disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. It attacks the nerves that control movement so muscles no longer work.

“Some people live for a few years, others 10 and then, in rare cases like Stephen Hawkins, you can live for many years, but the majority only live for about five,” Margaret added.

“There is not treatment or cure, it’s a terminal illness.

“She was told she was the only one on Uist with MND and a specialist has to come all the way from Stornoway, so she can’t even set up a little support group for herself. 

“She is keeping well at the moment but her husband also has trouble with his right arm since having a stroke. 

“Chrissie has been his carer for 12 years now so it’s a hard situation. 

“It’s frustrating that we don’t even know what sort of MND she has, and we won’t know until it starts progressing.”

To help fundraise, visit https://dundeekiltwalk2019.everydayhero.com/uk/margaret-1?fbclid=IwAR2a9Xn3dV8s9F3WFfw64JFFGQ3f5BxC3O-61ttF9Fm-Gafq9kW4UiEUURI