Ewan’s Journey to the London Marathon

How a retired teacher turned a life-altering Parkinson’s diagnosis into a £7,000+ fundraising mission for Cure Parkinson’s and future generations

1. Could you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your background and how running came into your life?

I’m Ewan, 61, and I live in a small fishing village on the west coast of Scotland where I grew up. Apart from a few years studying and working elsewhere and a couple of years as a fisherman I spent most of my career as a depute head teacher at Lochgilphead Joint Campus. I retired last year, though I still step in as a supply teacher when needed.

I ran occasionally when I was younger, but with four kids, it wasn’t a priority. Then, about 15 years ago, our school organized a 5k Fun Run for the British Heart Foundation. For family reasons, I wanted to take part, but I didn't want to make a complete fool of myself in front of 500 pupils! So I trained for a few weeks, got through it, and decided to try a half marathon. I didn't really know what I was doing - I even stopped mid-race to tie my laces, but I finished in about 1:38. At the finish line, a much better runner told me I could be quite good if I actually tried. I’ve been trying ever since.

2. You’ve been a member of Campbeltown Running Club for over a decade. How did joining a club shape your journey, especially for someone who isn't naturally sociable?

I’ve been a member since 2014, but I almost didn't make it to my first session. I’m not naturally sociable, and after driving all the way from Tarbert, I almost turned back in Longrow on that very first night. But I went in and ended up meeting a great bunch of people. Having that club support, alongside my wife, our four sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren, has been everything to me.

3. When were you diagnosed with Parkinson’s, and how did that moment shape your perspective?

I was formally diagnosed in July 2025, shortly after I retired. Looking back, the signs were there. I had been struggling to keep up at work, and simple tasks like writing had become extremely laborious. In April 2023, I was seeing a massage therapist, Laura MacGregor, for a badly torn hamstring, and she pointed out that my right arm was always tense and rigid. My wife, who is a nurse, also knew something wasn’t right.

In June 2025, I managed to run my first 10k in over a year, finishing in about 42 minutes and taking 1st place in the over-60 category. I was quite emotional. But when I pulled out my phone to take a celebratory selfie, my right hand was trembling too much. That was the moment I knew for sure. To be honest, receiving the formal diagnosis a week later was almost a relief - nobody wants Parkinson’s, but options like Motor Neurone Disease were much worse.

4. You are running the London Marathon for Cure Parkinson’s and have already raised over £7,000 in a matter of days. How is your training going, and what does this race mean to you?

There is no cure for Parkinson’s, and learning that there aren't even drugs to slow its progression was hard to take. Realistically, a cure won't come in time for me, but I can do something to help those who come after.

I’ve always wanted to run London, but this race isn’t about me anymore. The support has been overwhelming - reaching the minimum fundraising target in just 24 hours and quickly passing £7,000. If the marathon was tomorrow, I’d be aiming for under 3 hours and 30 minutes, and that's still my target for April. But I have a progressive brain disease and have to acknowledge that I might be walking it with a stick by then. Right now, my focus is simply ensuring I don't blow it by chasing seconds - too many people have backed me for that.

5. What goes through your mind when things get difficult, and what keeps you pushing forward?

I believe things happen for a purpose, even if we don’t see it right away. This isn’t the hand I would have chosen, but we don’t get to pick our cards - we can only play the best hand we're given. There is no point in moping or spoiling today by worrying about a future I might not even see. Many people deal with much worse. Today I am fit and well, and that is enough.

6. What message would you give to anyone facing a hard diagnosis right now?

Don’t let a diagnosis define you. It’s not good news, of course, but focus on what you still have and make the absolute most of it. My advice to anyone diagnosed with Parkinson’s is to be as active as you possibly can - exercise genuinely helps. Don’t give in, get on with your life, and never let it stop you.