Dad-of-four Mark Sommerville, from Uddingston in Lanarkshire, was praised by the PM in Westminster last December for his fundraising work and told: “We stand with you in this fight.”
A motor neurone disease sufferer backed by Keir Starmer amid a campaign for more research funding has slammed the Government’s lack of action to help find a cure.
Dad-of-four Mark Sommerville, from Uddingston in Lanarkshire, was praised by the PM in Westminster last December for his fundraising work and told: “We stand with you in this fight.”
However, 12 months on, Mark believes the Government is not doing enough to help fund research into new treatments.
He said: “It is almost a year to the day that Starmer recognised us and what we are trying to do and not a word since.
“We’ve sent letters asking for support, emails requesting a face to face meeting about funding into research and nothing. No response.
“It’s not enough. Those diagnosed with MND don’t have time to wait.
“At the time, it was an important statement from the Prime Minister.
“We need more funding imminently, more research put into finding a cure for this horrendous condition.”
Mark was given his devastating MND diagnosis in October last year and told he had 18 months left to live.
The 44-year-old set up the Mark Sommerville Foundation to fund research, and has since has teamed up with pharmaceutical firm Nevrargenics, which is behind a drug which it believes not only stops the impact of MND but reverses the damage already done.
The Prime Minister’s promise to help came after Mark’s case was highlighted by Labour MP for Coatbridge and Bellshill Frank McNally, who called for the Government to increase funding into research for a cure.
Mark and fellow campaigners from his foundation then met MPs to discuss the need for more MND awareness, funding and research.
In response, Starmer recognised Mark’s work and also that of rugby league star Kevin Sinfield, who has raised another million for sufferers of MND – the disease that took his best pal Rob Burrow in June aged just 41.
It also claimed the life of Scotland rugby hero Doddie Weir in 2022, aged 52.
Starmer said: “I pay tribute to Mark, who is in the gallery, and the work of his foundation. This diagnosis can be absolutely devastating, and it is testament to his bravery and compassion that he is raising awareness of the condition.
“Last week I paid tribute to the inspirational Kevin Sinfield, another incredible champion. I say to both of them, and to all those campaigning, that we stand with you in this fight.”
