KELLY HUXTABLE

RAISING FUNDS FOR MND SCOTLAND

Gill Sherry

Having lost my father-in-law to the neurodegenerative disease, Motor Neurone Disease, I know only too well how cruel the condition can be. There is still no cure for MND, so fundraising is vital as research continues.

Thanks to Kelly Huxtable, the fundraising pot is now £3,724 healthier after she took on a mammoth challenge in memory of her friend, Betty.

“Betty was diagnosed in her fifties, and she died when she was 82. She had one of the slower progressing types of MND. They don’t really understand why she lived so long. Even though she suffered badly with the disease, she tried to do as much for herself as possible. I think that’s what kept her going so well. She was a very strong and determined woman.”

Betty also had a great sense of humour and when she died in 2022, she died of pneumonia. Fair to say she had the last laugh when it came to fighting MND!

Kelly, who lives in Doonfoot in Ayr, is a hairdresser and had cut Betty’s hair for fifteen years. But Betty wasn’t just a client, she was a good friend.

“I work in a sheltered complex in Ayr on a Thursday and she was one of the residents. She had carers, but when I was going to do her hair, I would take her some shopping. She liked certain biscuits… and we’d have a good gossip and a right good chuckle. Her speech wasn’t great, but we always had a great laugh.

In fact, for someone who wasn’t very vocal, I don’t think I’ve ever laughed as much with someone!”

Kelly witnessed first-hand how debilitating the disease can be. So, having established why she chose to raise money for MND Scotland, I’m now curious to find out why she opted for one of the most physically challenging fundraising options.

“My friend, Julie, and her brother, Archie, had already signed up to Everest Base Camp. Julie was showing me the videos on YouTube one Saturday night and I thought, that looks great. She said, ‘you should do it with us’ and by the Sunday morning my flights were booked!”

The challenge took place in December last year by which time Kelly had clocked up many miles in her new boots and was more than ready to tackle the trek which would take her 5,364 metres above sea level.

“It was a nine-day trek. The higher up you got, it got colder. It was hard going but we took it really slow. Base Camp was a really tough day. I fell twice and I fell a cracker! I just slipped, my feet just weren’t moving, I had nothing left to give. But it was my last day and that kept me driving.”

Does she remember that feeling of elation when they finally reached Base Camp?

“The elation didn’t hit me until I was back in Kathmandu. I was glad I’d made it. We took some photos, but I was too tired to enjoy it. But once we got back to Kathmandu, we looked at each other and we were like, ‘we’ve done it!’ That’s when the excitement set in. We’d stopped feeling sorry for ourselves.”

Kelly will be forever grateful to their Nepalese mountain guide for ensuring a safe and successful expedition. But thanks must also go to her husband, Alan, and his partner, Callum Douglas, of Huxtable Design & Build and CAAN Design, who sponsored the trip, ensuring that every penny of the £3,724 raised by Kelly went directly to the charity.

“The amount raised completely passed my expectations. I think MND is still a bit under the radar. I feel it still needs that wee bit more recognition.”

Does that mean she has another fundraising challenge up her sleeve?

“I’m never going to say never… Kilimanjaro does sound quite tempting. We’ll see!”
If you’d like to donate to MND Scotland, you can do so via www.mndscotland.org.uk/donate/