Gordon Aikman

Gordon Aikman studied at Kirkcaldy High School where he was head boy.[4] He read Business at the University of Edinburgh. In 2007, he was elected as the sabbatical officer responsible for welfare and student societies in the Edinburgh University Students' Association.[5]

After graduation, he worked at the Scottish Parliament for the Scottish Labour Party as a researcher and later a press officer.[6] In September 2012, he was appointed as Director of Research[6] for the Better Together campaign in the Scottish Independence Referendum.

In June 2014, Aikman was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND), also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a degenerative neurological condition,[7] having initially complained of a persistent numbness in his fingers. Having received this diagnosis, he quickly launched a "Five-Point Fightback" campaign calling for increased research funding to help find a cure for MND.[8]

His campaign was launched soon after his diagnosis and has drawn support from across the UK political spectrum.[9][10][11]

After meeting Aikman in November 2014, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced that there would be a review of motor neurone disease care in Scotland.[12] Sturgeon later announced she was honouring her promise to Aikman and that the NHS in Scotland would begin to fund specialist nursing, and double the number of MND specialist nurses.[13]

By June 2016 Aikman had raised £500,000 towards research into motor neurone disease.[14] In March 2015 the 250,000 mark was broken after an event at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival that featured performances by Frankie Boyle, Stewart Francis and Fred MacAulay generated £25,000 in ticket sales.[15]

He wrote articles about his campaigning work and personal journey with MND that were published in The Scotsman, Daily Record and The Herald.[16] In 2017, he wrote a monthly column in the Scottish edition of The Sunday Times.[17]

• Judges' Award at the Scottish Politician of the Year awards – November 2014.[18]
• Daily Record Our Heroes Award alongside fellow MND campaigner Lucy Lintott.[19]
• Honorary doctorate (Doctor honoris causa) from the University of Edinburgh.[20] Mr Aikman made the commencement address to graduating medical students – July 2015[21]
• Kingdom FM Award at Kingdom FM's annual Local Hero Awards – August 2015.[22]
• Campaigner of the Year at the Scottish Politician of the Year awards – November 2015.[23]
• British Empire Medal in the 2015 Birthday Honours "for services to motor neurone disease Awareness and Research".[24][25]
• Columnist of the Year at the Scottish Press Awards – May 2017.[26]
• People's Choice Award at Scottish Charity Awards – June 2017.[27]
• Gordon Aikman Lecture Theatre, previously George Square Theatre, was renamed in 2018 in recognition of Aikman's campaigning. Former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown gave the inaugural lecture in October 2018.[28]

Aikman was married to Joe Pike,[29] a political journalist for ITV News and, now, Sky News author.[30]

Aikman died on 2 February 2017 at the age of 31.[5]