The widow of a popular MSP who died of cancer three years ago has raised £1,500 to fund research by having her head shaved as she begins the next stage of her own treatment for the disease.
Alex Johnstone was part of the first new intake of MSPs to enter the Scottish Parliament in 1999 and represented the north east as a Conservative until he died in 2016.
His widow Linda has now been diagnosed with myeloma, a rare and incurable blood cancer, as well as another form of the disease called amyloidosis.
The next stage of the treatment will involve large dose chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant.
The side effects of the treatment mean Mrs Johnstone is likely to lose her hair, but she decided to “turn a negative into a positive” and raise money for Myeloma UK.
The charity focuses exclusively on the disease – with the ultimate goal of finding a cure — and provides help and support to myeloma patients.
Mrs Johnstone paid tribute to the medical staff who have treated her, and everyone who donated cash and raffle prizes to the event.
She said: “Tonight’s event has been amazing and I’m hugely grateful to everyone for their support – people have just been incredibly generous, not just with money, but with raffle prizes and their time too.
“I initially set a target of £200, so to raise over £1,000 is fantastic and the event has also raised awareness of this rare disease.
“We have enjoyed a great atmosphere this evening and really turned a negative into a positive here,” she added.
“Alex was taken way too soon by cancer and although my own form of cancer is incurable, it can be managed and I’ll keep fighting.”
Details of Mrs Johnstone’s illness and fundraising can be found on her Facebook page Myeloma and me – Linda’s Journey.
