Aditya Shankar Pal took his oboe to the streets of Edinburgh to raise money for MND-SMART, inspired by meeting people living with motor neuron disease. From the Mound to Portobello beach, his performances helped support this vital research. Inspired by meeting people living with motor neuron disease (MND), Aditya Shankar Pal found a way to support research using something he already loved - music. Between April and June 2026, he busked around Edinburgh with his oboe to raise money for Motor Neurone Disease - Systematic Multi-Arm Adaptive Randomised Trial (MND-SMART).Turning concern into actionAditya’s decision to fundraise came after meeting people living with MND and seeing how difficult the disease can be. He wanted to help, and found a way through playing music! He chose to support MND-SMART, a clinical trial exploring potential treatments for motor neuron disease. For Aditya, fundraising was a way to play a small part in helping with research. Music on the streets of EdinburghAditya set up to play at the Mound and at Portobello beach, performing for passers-by, tourists and people visiting the city. The songs he played included Imagine Dragons’ ‘Believer’ and Coldplay’s ‘Viva la Vida’ and ‘Clocks’, ‘The Bare Necessities’ from The Jungle Book and even a Minuet by Mozart. Many people stopped to talk with Aditya, and he enjoyed hearing their stories as much as he enjoyed working out which songs to play for them and putting a smile on their faces. Busking wasn't always easy though, wind and rain could make playing the oboe difficult, while other nearby buskers sometimes meant Aditya had to change how he played. He learned to adapt to whatever was happening around him.Small moments, meaningful supportOne of the things that surprised Aditya was how many people chose to donate, including people who kindly gave without stopping to speak to him. He found that offering an online donation option through a QR code worked particularly well, as less people are carrying cash these days. Aditya’s advice for other fundraisersAditya’s advice is to expect the unexpected and go with the flow, especially when fundraising in public. He encourages others to enjoy the experience, knowing that they can help make a difference while raising awareness of a cause that matters to them.“I really enjoyed the fun experience and would recommend it to other people.”Support MND researchYou can find Aditya’s fundraising page here:https://www.justgiving.com/page/mnd-researchWatch Aditya playingYou can watch Aditya busking on YouTube below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP_hc9jOHc8https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lumB_GPKddohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR-bv6UuP8khttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4vWtxRRp-k This article was published on Thursday 22 October 2026
