13km run for ex-Lesmahagow based footballer George Walker backs MND charity

George, who is now living with motor neurone disease (MND), formerly coached Sean McLaughlan (28), James Connell (33) and Stephen Mather (34), who will be taking part in MND Scotland’s Fun Run Relay on the weekend of the Scottish Cup final.

On Sunday, May 23, the three men will run 13km between Glasgow’s football stadiums. The route will start at St Anthony's Junior Football Club in Cardonald, where George used to coach, and will go on to Ibrox, Hampden and Celtic Park.

Sadly, George, 61, a retired plumber and football coach, is now bed-bound, unable to continue working or pursuing his passion of playing football.

MND is a rapidly progressing terminal illness which stops signals from the brain reaching the muscles. It can cause someone to lose the ability to walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe unaided.

George’s daughter, Georgi (22) told the Carluke and Lanark Gazette: “Football has always been my dad’s passion and he was a semi-professional goalkeeper with Collier Row, Lesmahagow and Cambuslang Rangers at one point in his life.

"When he was diagnosed with MND in 2019 he was still doing football coaching with Dunbeth Football Club, but he soon deteriorated and had to give it up six months after his diagnosis.

“As well as this, he had to give up work at the same time due to his disease. His muscles had stopped working to their full capacity which made him unable to carry out his trade.

"My dad now relies on his family to care for him 24/7, as well as his occupational therapist, Laura, and physiotherapist, Iona, who have both been great, and have helped my dad every step of the way, with anything he has needed to adapt to his new way of living.”

Support Sean, James and Stephen at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/running-for-george-21 or sign up for MND Scotland’s Fun Run Relay at www.mndscotland.org.uk/fun-run