Driving Hope Forward: Angus MacDonald’s Marathon Golf Challenge for MND Research

On a long summer day at Muirfield, Angus MacDonald and his fellow golfers Andy Nicol, Stuart Paul and Nick White set themselves an extraordinary challenge: to play multiple rounds of golf from morning until sunset, walking every step-in support of the Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease (MND) Research and the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.

By the time they finished just before 9pm, they had walked more than a marathon’s distance, an estimated 60,000 steps, raising just under £20,000 for the Centre and foundation in the process.

“It was a really, really good day,” Angus reflects. “We’d had support throughout the day, at lunchtime, in the evening, people sitting outside wishing us well, and a few people even caddied for us on the final round.”

The challenge was both physical and emotional. With old injuries and “niggles” among the group, there was uncertainty about whether everyone would make it through unscathed. Thankfully, they did.

“We weren’t sure how we’d all hold up, but we didn’t have any issues, which was great,” Angus says. “The standard of golf stayed consistently good, and it was just a really enjoyable day.”

To keep spirits high, the group introduced friendly competition, swapping teams throughout the rounds. The system of “backs versus forwards,” and other playful combinations inspired by their shared rugby background, where Andy, Stuart and Nick played rugby with Doddie Weir for Scottish Schools in 1988, and Angus shared a friendship with Doddie Weir, recording birdies, bunker visits, and plenty of laughs along the way.

A Personal Cause

The fundraising effort carries deep personal meaning for Angus. The Euan MacDonald Centre is named after his brother, Euan MacDonald, whose life and legacy continue to inspire world-leading research into MND.

Reflecting on a recent symposium held in Euan’s honour, Angus describes how powerful it was to see the Centre’s work up close.

“Whilst I get all the newsletters and emails from the Centre, it was great to be there in person and really understand what’s going on,” he explains. “Some of it was over my head, but the amount of work being done, the trials, the experiments, the repurposing of existing drugs, was incredible.”

What left Angus feeling most struck was a renewed sense of optimism.

“I came away from it being very positive and hopeful about what was being done,” he says. “They’ve been working at this for a long time, and to see the number of different avenues they’ve got going is hugely encouraging.”

Why Research and Donations Matter

While Angus acknowledges the complexity of finding a cure for MND, he is clear about the real and tangible progress already being made.

“There are already things that can alleviate the effects of MND for people with certain genetic variants,” he says. “In some cases, it can stop the progression. That’s hugely positive.”

He continues: “Even treatments that can slow the pace of the disease make a real difference. That’s why continued research is so important and why fundraising like this matters so much.”

The funds raised through Angus’s challenge directly support the Centre’s ability to explore new drug trials, investigate genetic pathways, and push forward innovative research that could transform lives.

Powered by Community Support

The success of the challenge was made possible by overwhelming support from across the community. Donations were driven by word of mouth, social media, and the backing of the Muirfield membership, with promotion taking place across two years to build momentum.

“The support was terrific,” Angus says simply. “Across the board.”

As the Euan MacDonald Centre continues its mission to change the future for people living with MND, stories like Angus’s remind us that every step, every donation, and every shared effort brings hope closer.

With continued support, that hope can become progress and progress can change lives.