20/07/17 - 17062003 - SCOTRAIL CENTRAL STATION - GLASGOW (L-R) MND patient Alison McDonald, Alex Hynes Managing Director of ScotRail Alliance and Craig Stockton CEO of MND Scotland.• ScotRail Alliance in three-year link up with MND Scotland
• MND Awareness week running from 19-25 June
• MND patients and their families urged to make use of assisted travel scheme to access rail services

Abseils and skydives are just two exploits that will see ScotRail Alliance staff go off the rails this year in aid of their nominated charity, MND Scotland.

Awareness of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) will be raised from 19-25 June at some stations and on social media as the ScotRail Alliance and MND take part in a series of events to fund-raise for the disease which has such a devastating impact on patients and their families and friends.

This coincides with a global MND Awareness Day on 21 June.

To find out more, MND patient Alison McDonald joined ScotRail Alliance Managing Director Alex Hynes and MND Scotland CEO Craig Stockton at Glasgow Central Station, to hear how 7500 ScotRail Alliance staff will be raising money.

The partnership between the ScotRail Alliance and MND Scotland will last for three years. As well as the high-octane events for only the bravest, more sedate dress down days, a concert with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and bake sales will also play their part in raising cash for the charity.

Alex Hynes also took the opportunity to discuss with Alison – who is a wheelchair user – the customer assist programme which is in place to help customers access rail services.

• Last year, the ScotRail Alliance provided just under 85,000 assisted journeys, booked through its website
• Many more unbooked customer assistances are also given by railway staff every day, from helping with luggage, to local directions and support to board or alight trains.

Alex Hynes said: “I admire and support MND Scotland’s work and give my full backing to our three-year partnership which has already started delivering for the charity and its work.

“Part of this support is making our rail services accessible for as many customers as possible and this includes those who may need a bit more help to travel on our trains. I want Scotland’s railway to be the best it’s ever had and making it accessible for all is a big part in delivering that excellence.”

Craig Stockton, CEO of MND Scotland, added: “It’s fantastic to be working so closely with the ScotRail Alliance and to have the opportunity to improve and promote accessible train travel across Scotland.

“Losing your independence can be one of the most difficult things to come to terms with after a diagnosis of MND and we will continue to do what we can to enable people with the illness to maintain their independence and ability to travel for as long as possible.

“We are very excited about the partnership and all of the different activities ScotRail Alliance staff and customers will be able to get involved in over the next three years, as well as the awareness we can raise across the country.”

For more information, please contact ScotRail Alliance Communications on 0141 555 4105 or email communications@scotrail.co.uk