Rugby star pays tribute after death of MND friend

Scotland rugby star Kenny Logan has paid tribute from family and friends to a father with motor neurone disease (MND) who worked until his death to support his family.

Scott Stewart died in hospital in Stirling on Sunday.

Just two months ago, Scott revealed this to BBC Scotland News How he had adapted his home and was still trying to earn money as he hoped he could survive for years to come.

The 42-year-old man is survived by his wife Robin, whom he recently married, and six-month-old daughter Rae.

The family posted a message on their LinkedIn page, saying: “It is with a heavy heart that I have to announce that Scott tragically passed away yesterday afternoon surrounded by his family. Stewart Family x”

Speaking from his London home, former Scotland international Kenny Logan told BBC Scotland News he was devastated by the death of his friend just days before Christmas.

“I’m really surprised. I saw him at his house a month ago and just 18 months ago I was playing golf with him.

“He played two over par, he was a really good golfer. He was playing almost to professional golf standard, he was a scratch golfer.”

The 52-year-old former Glasgow and London Wasps winger first met the Scot when they were teenagers.

“I had a coaching clinic called Rugby with Kenny Logan and he used to come there as a kid.

“She told me about two years ago, when she was diagnosed with MND, that I once gave her a lift home because her mom and dad were coming a little late to pick her up from my camp and she Never forgot.”

Logan, who is also an ambassador for the MND charity My Name’5 Dodgy Foundation, said he was “quite emotional” thinking about the last time he was at Scott’s house, when his mom and dad were hugging him.

“It’s very sad because she has a young family and she just got married and had her daughter about six months ago.”

MND is progressive and causes muscle weakness, stiffness and paralysis that gets worse over time.

There is currently no effective treatment or cure for this condition that affects the brain and nerves.

Scott founded a business selling golf accessories while on leave during the pandemic.

He continued to work on the business from home until recently going to the hospital.

He would list items to sell online while his mother and father, both 76, volunteered to take them to the post office for delivery.

Paul Thompson, director of fundraising at the MND charity My Name’5 Dodgy Foundation, said he was “extremely” saddened.

The foundation was started by former Scotland international rugby star Doddie Weir, who died in 2022, six years after suffering from MND.

Mr Thompson is sad: “Scott was a huge figure within the MND community, using that time to vocally advocate for investment in research and to clearly highlight the reality faced every day with this cruel disease. shared.

“Scott was recently the first recipient of the inaugural James Clark Award at The My Name’5 Dodgy Foundation’s annual dinner in recognition of his campaigning and support for the Foundation.

“He believed that MND was not an incurable disease but an underfunded disease.

“That’s why he devoted all his attention to advancing the search for a cure as well as raising funds, especially in the golf community of which he was also a major part.”

Tributes from the golf world were led by Scottish Open champion Robert McIntyre, who is ranked 14th in the world.

The 28-year-old posted a photo of herself with Scott at The Renaissance club in North Berwick earlier this year and wrote, “RIP”.

Scott spent his life savings adapting the family home to suit his needs, and used his £170-a-week disability allowance to pay for a mobility vehicle.

His wife Robyn is currently on maternity leave from her job as program manager for Public Health Scotland.