A TENNIS lover has set off on an ace fundraiser in memory of his brother.
Stuart Falconer is aiming to play 40 tennis matches over four days at 40 clubs between East Lothian and Orkney.
He has already smashed his fundraising target of £1,500 for MND Scotland before he declares ‘game, set and match’ on Sunday.
Stuart’s brother Richard died of motor neurone disease (MND) in March, becoming the second member of the family to have their life cut short by the condition, with Stuart also losing cousin Brian in 2017.
Already, Stuart, of Pencaitland, has served up at Haddington, Gullane, Longniddry and Musselburgh before heading north on the 400-mile road trip.
He said: “Tennis has always been a favourite pastime of mine since I started playing at age ten, so when I was thinking of how I might be able to raise some money for MND Scotland, it made sense to try and factor it in.
“Although Richard wasn't really a tennis fan, in recent years he had started to enjoy a social game of ‘Touch Tennis’ with friends at his local sports centre, so that was another tennis connection.”
The contests will be played over three sets under the Fast4 format where the winner is the first to four games in each set.
The final match will take place in Orkney, where Richard had called home since 1995.
Stuart said: “I knew to raise money, it had to be a challenge that would catch people’s attention and considering we’ve just surpassed my initial fundraising target, I think the idea of playing 40 games in four days has managed to do that.
“The tennis community is very friendly, and I have had people from other clubs who have been affected by motor neurone disease, showing their support for my challenge and offering to help me in any way they can.”
MND is a rapidly progressing terminal illness, which stops signals from the brain reaching the muscles.
Richard first experienced symptoms of motor neurone disease (MND) when he began to feel breathless and, soon after, began to also feel a loss of strength in his hands.
In August 2020, Richard received his MND diagnosis, having retired at the age of 64.
As the disease progressed, Richard’s strength continued to deteriorate, with his regular walks with his dog and cycles becoming shorter, before stopping completely.
Stuart said: "Richard had only just retired, and he was supposed to be starting a new chapter in his life, spending his time doing the things he enjoyed.
"Although he didn’t lose his ability to communicate until near the very end, he was a very practical person who loved being outdoors and to see MND strip him of his independence was very difficult.
"I must admit that before Brian was diagnosed with MND in 2017, I knew very little about the disease and although they shared the same diagnosis, my cousin Brian and Richard’s experiences were both very different.
"We are a very close family and to have two people diagnosed with MND has been devastating.
“Richard didn’t have children of his own, but he was a favourite uncle to all his nieces and nephews, who all loved to visit him at his home in Orkney.”
Rachel Maitland, MND Scotland’s CEO, wished Stuart well.
She said: ‘I am always inspired by the creative challenges people take on to raise money for MND Scotland and want to say a huge thank you to Stuart for taking on this unique feat.
“It's only because of people like Stuart that we're able to continue to provide essential support to everyone affected by MND and further the vital research that's taking us a step closer to a cure.”
To support Stuart, go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/fast4forty
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