14 year old Ryan McLaughlin will do a Zip slide from Forth Road bridge to raise money for Glasgow MS Charity!

Ryan McLaughlin from the Shine on Scotland campaign has offered his support and help to the Glasgow based charity Revive MS Support. Ryan McLaughlin will be taking part in ‘Revive MS support’s ” zip line event and he is gathering people from all over Scotland to help him.

Ryan said – I’ve been working very hard on the campaign for the prevention of MS with vitamin D that I just haven’t had any free time to do anything lately for Revive MS support, but when my mum had  a big relapse a couple of weeks ago Revive MS support was right there for us offering support and treatments.

I know its very important that I don’t forget this amazing charity that looks after my mum and i am honored to help, they have been there for our family right from the day she was diagnosed and I can not and will not let them down.

I have asked all the people on my Facebook  group to help me and I’m proud to say that I’ve now got 14 people that offered to come along do the zip slide and raise at least £100 each which will go towards my target of raising £1500.

A lovely couple who have followed my campaign and have became online friends with my mum have even offered to come all the way from the Isle of Man and take part because they have been so inspired by what the ‘Shine on Scotland’ campaign has achieved in raising awareness of MS.

http://www.revivescotland.org.uk/get-involved/26-adrenaline-events/276-davidrevivemssupportorguk.html

07.10.09

Friday 25 September saw the MS Society Scotland hold it’s third fundraising Ladies Lunch in Glasgow. This fantastic event was attended by more than 150 ladies who in one afternoon raised over £14,600 for the Society!

The guests were treated to a spectacular fashion show featuring ‘real’ models wearing Zara clothes, Tantrums & Tiaras fascinators and Catherin Aitken handbags. Not to mention the gorgeous Glasgow Hawks rugby players who escorted the models down the catwalk! These plucky Hawks even ‘volunteered’ to auction themselves off for kisses later in the afternoon and posed for a topless photo with the hilarious comedian Susan Calman!

Hosts Des & Vanessa from Galaxy FM’s breakfast show steered the proceedings with such aplomb that Vanessa was rewarded by being granted her wish of taking away the polystyrene head that had supported the fascinator from the silent auction all day.

The star of the day though was Ryan McLaughlin who had a room full of women hanging off his every word as he delivered his emotional speech about how MS has touched his life and how proud he was to see his mum Kirsten modelling in the fashion show. Ryan even helped with the auction and raised the sale of seven signed Harry Potter books to a phenomenal £2,600.

Thank you to everyone who supported this event with their time, hard work and generosity! It is greatly appreciated.

Find out more about fundraising at MS Society Scotland.

Katy Williamson
Fundraising Team
MS Society Scotland
Tel: 0131 335 4050
email

MISS Scotland Katharine Brown and DJ Suzie McGuire have signed up to join Celts ace Gary Caldwell in a Bighearted charity climb up Mount Kilimanjaro.

The daring celebs have agreed to take part in the Comic Relief-style trek up the 19,340ft Tanzanian mountain next summer.

We told earlier this month how Hoops defender Gary volunteered for the adventure at our glitzy Bighearted Scotland Awards.

He was impressed with the plan to conquer Africa’s highest peak by award-winners Ryan McLaughlin, 14, and Allan Thomas, 41 – and now Kath and Suzie will join them too.

Kath, 22, from Dunblane, Perthshire, said: “I was thrilled to be asked and immediately said yes.

“I’ve always wanted to climb that mountain – I’m drawn to it.”

Clyde 1’s Suzie, 35, from Eaglesham, Renfrewshire, added: “I’m definitely up for it – but I am nervous.”

Gary, 27, said: “I’m really excited about Kilimanjaro. As long as the dates don’t clash with football commitments I’ll do it.

“There are a couple of others in the dressing room who want to climb it too.”

Aberdonian Allan, who won our Fundraiser of the Year, and Child of the Year Ryan, of Drumchapel, Glasgow, hope the trek will raise £100,000 for the six Bighearted Scotland charities, plus their own causes.

TO sponsor Ryan or the event , email awareness@shineonscotland.org.uk

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/scottish/scottish_showbiz/523973/Katharine-Brown-will-climb-Kilimanjaro-for-charity.html

The subject of vitamin D was on the agenda at the Scottish Government’s headquarters on Wednesday 22 September as Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon and Minister for Public Health Shona Robison both took the time to meet with Shine on Scotland campaigners.

14 year old Ryan McLaughlin was joined by his parents, Alan and Kirsten, Craig Wilkie from the MS Society Scotland, and Glasgow Anniesland MSP Bill Butler.  The high profile campaign has already been tremendously successful since its launch earlier this year and the lodging of a petition at the Scottish Parliament in June.

The Scottish Government is taking a keen interest in the campaign and Nicola Sturgeon took the opportunity to praise Ryan for his efforts and the increased awareness around the issue of vitamin D that has resulted from the work done so far.

Nicola Sturgeon assured campaigners that they would be invited to play a key role in helping the Government draw up its own awareness campaign on the importance and benefits of vitamin D.  Shona Robison also expressed great support for the campaigner’s idea of holding a vitamin D summit in Scotland.  Shine on Scotland and the MS Society Scotland will now begin the task of organising a summit to attract international experts on the subject to present the latest evidence and research.

Commenting after the meeting, Ryan said:

“It was great to continue the campaign with this meeting and I’m delighted that both the Health Secretary and the Minister for Public Health took the time to meet us.  We’ve achieved a lot so far but there is still a lot to do, especially before we go back to the Petitions Committee in November.  I’d also like to thank Bill Butler for his continued support”.

Craig Wilkie, Policy Officer with the MS Society Scotland, commented:

“The Health Secretary said that the door was ajar for the campaign and we look forward to opening it further.  The Ministers were very generous with their time and complimentary of the campaign’s achievements.  The MS Society Scotland is delighted to be supporting Shine on Scotland and we will continue to work with them and the Scottish Government for the benefit of people affected by MS”.

TWO of our plucky Bighearted Scotland winners are planning to climb one of the world’s highest mountains – and want celebs to join them!

Go-getting gong heroes Ryan McLaughlin and Allan Thomas have asked Ultimo tycoon Michelle Mone and Celtic defender Gary Caldwell to take part in their Comic Relief-style trek up Kilimanjaro.

And the bra queen is said to be “definitely interested” after she and fellow guest Gary met the dynamic duo at our awards bash last week.

Mountaineer Allan, who won the Fundraiser of the Year award, plans to lead the trek next summer – and Ryan 14, is determined to join him.

Allan, 41, of Aberdeen said: “Meeting people like Ryan was really inspiring. We want to raise £100,000.”

The salesman, who won our gong for climbing Everest to raise cash for cancer victims, is deciding whether to tackle 19,340ft- tall Kilimanjaro or 15,781ft Mont Blanc in the Alps. He said: “Mont Blanc is technically more difficult, but Kilimanjaro is higher so altitude sickness can be worse.”

Allan has invited Michelle and Gary to train on Scotland’s hills, along with other Bighearted nominees.

He and Ryan aim to raise cash for the six Bighearted charities as well as their own causes.

Ryan, of Drumchapel, Glasgow – who won Child of the Year for his campaign to help multiple sclerosis sufferers like mum Kirsten, 34 – said: “There will be blisters, sweat and tears but I can do it.”

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/scottish/scottish_news/500317/Awards-winners-want-stars-to-climb-Kilimanjaro-to-raise-charity-cash.html ]]> http://www.shineonscotland.org.uk/news/2009/09/star-trek/feed/ 0 http://www.shineonscotland.org.uk/news/2009/09/ryan-wins-child-of-the-year-2009/ http://www.shineonscotland.org.uk/news/2009/09/ryan-wins-child-of-the-year-2009/#comments Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:23:26 +0000 Alan McLaughlin http://www.shineonscotland.org.uk/?p=876 On Friday the 4th September Ryan won the Big hearted Child of the Year Award it was a fantastic night and we are all so proud of him.

Read the full story here from the News of the World.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Ryan doesn’t mind if he doesn’t win the prize its not a competition, he is up against some amazing kids , it’s about getting the message across about the campaign and raising awareness and trying to prevent multiple sclerosis for future generations, there will be some really important people attending and they could really make a difference.

Ryan is looking forward to meeting the deputy First Minister Miss Nicola Sturgeon as she has been very supportive of his campaign and he is looking forward to his meeting with her and health minister Shona Robison in September

PLUCKY RYAN TURNS HEARTACHE INTO BRAVE HELP CAMPAIGN

By Kathleen Nutt, 01/08/2009

PLUCKY schoolboy Ryan McLaughlin has turned the heartache of seeing his mum suffer from multiple sclerosis into a brave campaign to save others from the same pain.

The 14-year-old even led a 1,000-strong march on Holyrood in a brave bid to persuade MSPs to dish out free vitamin D supplements to help beat the disease.

And after putting his case to them, he will meet with Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon next month to discuss his proposals.

Ryan’s actions have now earned him a nomination for our Bighearted Child Of The Year award.

And last night mum Kirsten, 34, of Drumchapel, Glasgow, said: “He is a true hero. I am proud to call him my son.”

Ryan was devastated when she was diagnosed with the disease two years ago. The ex-European tae kwon do champion now struggles to climb stairs or even get dressed.

But after learning that vitamin D in sunlight helps prevent the condition, the schoolboy launched his Shine On Scotland campaign.

He’s calling for children and mums-to-be to get vitamin D supplements free.

The determined youngster has also presented a short film about MS. It’s now been viewed all over the world and, in May, it was even screened at half time during the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden.

As well as his campaigning, the Knightswood High School pupil has proved an invaluable help to dad Alan, 35, and brother Darren, ten.

Graphic designer Alan said: “Without Ryan’s help, I do not know how we would have got through the ordeal. He drew strength from our family’s pain and decided to fight for the health of future generations of Scots. He has received worldwide support for his campaign. He’s an inspiration to everyone.”

Ryan’s nomination for our coveted Child Of The Year award could now earn him a second meeting with Nicola Sturgeon – because the Deputy First Minister is presenting the awards at our glitttering ceremony hosted by Sportscene’s Dougie Vipond at Glasgow’s Marriot Hotel on September 4.

Ryan beamed: “I’m thrilled to be up for this award – I hope it helps my campaign. I was really scared at first when I was told my mum had MS.

“Then I decided to see if I could do something to help.”

Ryan’s campaign has been backed by Harry Potter author JK Rowling, 44. Her mother Anne died from an MS-related illness in 1990 at the age of just 45.

Scotland has the world’s highest MS rate, with over 12,500 sufferers. MS Society Scotland’s David McNiven said: “Ryan is an inspiring young man. The MS Society funded the research that sparked his campaign. He’s done a great job.”

The charities to benefit from Bighearted Scotland 2009 are: Alcohol Focus Scotland, CLIC Sargent, Epilepsy Scotland, Momentum, Penumbra and Scottish Native Woods.