I am 34, wed to an amazing wife, father to a gorgeous boy, brother to four awesome bros, a keen cyclist and snowboarder. I am Wine Buyer for Berry Bros. & Rudd, the world's oldest and most famous wine merchant,  an Author to two books of Champagne & Sparkling wine. I have recently moved back home to Edinburgh after 10 years living in London. And, in 2018, I was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

For those of you not familiar with MND (or ALS as the Americans call it), it is a bad one as diseases go. Incurable, degenerative and paralysing; it strips you of your nerve cells which control your motor function (the control of your muscles) which means your muscles waste away and can never be built up again. After you've lost control of your body, you usually die when your chests muscles simply don't have the strength to work your lungs anymore, or your lungs fill with fluid which you can't cough up. Wickedly, your mind remains intact to review the disease's progress before it finally gets you.

Comparatively, I am one of the lucky ones, I'm on the right side of the 50%: I've had the disease for almost 4 years and I'm not dead yet, so every day is a good day.

I live a life which I want to live, and I'm doing everything to slow the symptoms of my disease. I swear good wine, fresh air and activity are saving me. Apart from the emotional weight, my symptoms are a shake and wasting of muscles, chiefly in my left hand and arm, an overall lack of energy and progressive loss of function in my hand. My left hand is now so weak I can't squeeze a tube of toothpaste. I can now feel the same thing happening on my right side. So, if I calculate how quickly my decline was in my left hand, I reckon I have a couple of years of living 'normally' before I need daily help & care. 

It's tough luck getting MND at any age, let alone when you are 30. But my youth helps, and I know from keeping fit and in a positive frame of mind is saving me from the worst of it. There is no point sulking, I'll end up missing the best days of my health. 

It’s been a difficult journey to get to today, where I have accepted my lot, and I am ready to share this with you all.

As we head toward the 4-year anniversary since my diagnosis, I want to help drive awareness of this life-shattering disease and do my bit to help find a cure.  When I still have power in my legs, lead in my pecker and enough grip in my hands to hold my handlebars. My twin brother, some friends and I are going on another bike ride; we are cycling the 5 highest roads in Scotland, all in one ride.! This potentially impossible 260-mile route will take us to the most beautiful and dramatic views of Scotland with over 19000ft of climbing. Now, this sounds very hard on paper but even more so having MND, so wish me/us luck..!

We are fundraising for My Name'5 Doddie, a charity started by Scottish Rugby Legend Doddie Weir who was diagnosed just before me with the condition. His charity is doing amazing work, promoting awareness, funding research for a cure with the MND Association & MND Scotland; including the new MND-SMART drug trails which have just started. His charity is helping people like me, and their families to live their best lives.