SOME of the world's brightest comedy stars have come together to help brave Scots motor neurone disease (MND) sufferer, Gordon Aikman, smash his £250,000 fundraising target.

 

Frankie Boyle and Stewart Francis were among a host famous comedians to perform at last night's Stand Up To MND: Gordon's Fightback comedy show to raise funds for research into the devastating illness.

The show, which took place at the King's Theatre as part of the Glasgow International Comedy Festival, raised more than £25,000 for the campaign on ticket sales alone, with a sell-out crowd of 1,700 people in attendance and has caused Aikman to double his fundraising target to £500,000.

Aikman, 29, who was diagnosed with the disease in June last year, is determined to help find a cure.

He said: "Tonight has been unbelievable.

"To have such huge stars helping to fund a cure means a lot to me, but more importantly, it means we can cure MND faster.

"Thanks to the generosity of everyone who has got behind my campaign we are £250,000 closer to curing this terrible disease.

"A quarter of a million pounds is a huge amount of money, but I'm just getting started.

"I'm doubling my target to £500,000.

"MND is a death sentence for me, but with your help we can help find a cure for future generations."

Canadian comedian, Francis, said that Aikman was an inspiration.

Francis added: "To see what Gordon is achieving in the face of his diagnosis is absolutely inspirational.

"This guy has raised £250,000 so that one day people won't have to go through this terrible disease.

"That's incredible."

To donate to the cause text "MNDS85 £5" TO 70070 or go to gordonsfightback.com.