A SOUTH Scotland MSP has joined a fundraising campaign to support motor neurone disease (MND) research.

Brian Whittle has signed up for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation’s Doddie Aid 2025 campaign.

The foundation, created by former Scotland rugby player Doddie Weir in 2017, has so far committed more than £18 million to MND research.

Despite the investment, the disease remains difficult to treat with no known cure.

The Doddie Aid campaign, which begins on January 1, is the foundation's largest annual fundraiser.

It runs for five weeks, with participants paying a £20 donation to take part in a personal exercise challenge.

This can include activities like running, cycling, swimming, dancing, or walking.

This year, the campaign has introduced a new feature where participants will be divided into the four nations of Scotland, England, Ireland, and Wales.

They will compete to see which nation can log the most miles over the five weeks.

Brian joined Dougie Vipond and other supporters of the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation at the Scottish Parliament to learn about MND research and to sign up for the campaign.

He said: "I’m delighted to play my part in raising much needed funds for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation by signing up to take part in Doddie Aid 2025 and promoting the campaign to others.

"In the seven years since the Foundation was launched by my friend Doddie Weir, it has committed £18 million to support vital MND research into effective treatments and one day a cure for this terrible disease.

“However, there remains a long road to travel. 

"MND is a complex condition with a number of risk factors and people who are diagnosed with it currently have very few treatment options.

"It is vital that the research continues, and this can only happen through fundraising efforts such as the Doddie Aid campaign.

"I am looking forward to getting active and logging my exercise miles from 1 January when the campaign starts, and I hope that many more people across Scotland will join me.

"After all, Weir in this Together."

People can sign up to take part in Doddie Aid 2025 via the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation website at https://app.doddieaid.com/onboarding/.