A CHARITY which campaigns for people with motor neurone disease has been named Scotland's charity of the year.
MND Scotland scooped Charity of the Year and the People's Choice award after coming top in a public poll which attracted 18,000 votes.
It followed a year when the muscle wasting disease was highlighted by the ice bucket challenge, a global fundraising craze started in the US, and by the efforts of some high-profile Scottish sufferers including former Rangers player Fernando Ricksen and political researcher Gordon Aikman.
Craig Stockton, chief executive of MND Scotland, said: "We are delighted to win this prestigious award in what's been a phenomenal year for us. The ice bucket challenge took the world by storm and brought MND awareness into gardens, parks and iPhones across the country.
"MND campaigner Gordon Aikman helped secure public funding for MND nurses - and double the current number of existing nurses. Fernando Ricksen showed huge courage in opening up about how MND has affected him. We would like to dedicate this award to the fantastic supporters, volunteers and staff who give up their time and talents to improve the lives of those affected - and help us work towards a world without MND."
The awards ceremony, held at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh, recognised charities and people right across Scotland.
Beith Community Development Trust in North Ayrshire won the Celebrating Communities award for its efforts to improve the mental and physical fitness of the community.
Matthew McVarish, 32, from Lanarkshire, was named Charity Champion for his dedication to ending the silence around child sexual abuse. Working with Airdrie-based child abuse charity, the Moira Anderson Foundation, Mr McVarish walked 10,000 miles around Europe to raise awareness of child sexual abuse and has been invited by the Council of Europe to give advice on legislative reform across 47 countries.
He said: "Winning this award makes me proud to be Scottish, as it confirms that we are a nation who are ready to discuss the problem that most don't want to talk about."
There were also awards for Prostate Cancer UK, visual impairment charity Visibility, and the Scottish Huntington's Association in conjunction with Stirling University.
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