Carluke’s Laura will do skydive in memory of her dad

Laura (31), of Whiteshaw Avenue, will jump 10,000 feet from an aeroplane in St Andrews on August 17 to raise money in tribute to the man who lived with the debilitating condition Motor Neurone Disease for a remarkable 30 years before his death in January 2013.

Laura, a bank worker who is Carluke Gala Day secretary, said: “My dad was my hero and I miss him every second of every day.

“I hope by doing this skydive I can raise awareness for this condition.”

Allan, who had originally been from Pettinain, was a bricklayer for his short working life until he took ill in his 30s. It took nine months for Motor Neurone Disease to be diagnosed.

Laura said that the devastating condition had taken a hold of her dad “rapidly”; he soon found it a struggle to walk and his speech was slurred.

The disease ultimately left Allan confined to a wheelchair and unable to walk, talk or use his hands.

“What my dad went through makes me doing a skydive seem like no big deal,” she added.

For more on this, pick up a copy of this week’s Carluke and Lanark Gazette.