Black Isle joiner willing to do ‘whatever it takes’ for potentially life-saving MS treatment in Mexico
A BLACK Isle joiner, who has had a “crash course in MS” after his diagnosis last year is willing to do “whatever it takes” to raise funds for a potentially life-saving treatment in Mexico.
Graham Mackay (49) from Tore, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in June 2024 — but he has been off work for over 2.5 years due to the symptoms.
“They told me ‘We think you have MS,’ and I didn’t even know what MS was!” said Graham. “I didn’t even know you get different types — there are three types — I have primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). So I’ve had a crash course in it, you could say!
“The only option I’ve got left to fight it, is a treatment in Mexico. It’s called hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) — which basically, would shut down my immune system completely. First they harvest the stem cells from my body, and once they have enough they give me chemotherapy for 3-4 days until my immune system is wipes out. Then, they can re-introduce my stem cells.
“It’s intense, but this is what I’m wanting to do.”
Jayne Brittain, from Conon, has been Graham’s best pal last 33 years, and is now helping him fundraise for the life-changing — but costly — treatment, with a GoFundMe page titled Mackay’s Journey.
Graham continued: “They don’t do the treatment in this country — well they do, but it costs £85,000! It’s just out of my reach… but the cost of £55,000 in Mexico is more within my realm of reaching.”
Jayne added: “When you go into stem cell treatment, Mexico is the number one place for it — the UK is eighth.”
“It doesn’t cure MS, but it will halt the progression,” said Graham. “So it won’t get any worse. If it stops the progression, I can still fight the rest myself — I can get myself fit again.”
After multiple fundraisers, raffles and Graham selling his van — due to no longer being able to drive — the fundraiser is now over the halfway mark.
He said: “I’ve got a shed full of stuff we’re going to try and sell, including my pool table. Needs must. I will do whatever it takes to get to Mexico.”
Jayne added: “The sooner we can do it, the better.”
Some of the fundraisers include raffles, race nights, Christmas hampers and weekly football cards. Jade Taylor, who has been to Mexico for the same MS treatment, is also helping with fundraising.
“My son Ross Logan, who plays for Rothes FC, is going to be running the Edinburgh marathon in May,” said Jayne. “And we’ve also got Ayeshah Macbeath climbing Ben Nevis on March 1.”
Graham said: “She’s got to do training and everything for it, because it’s a winter climb! She says it’s a bucket list item she’s always wanted to so — but I say to her ‘You’re off your head!’
“But she’s got her brother-in-law to do it with her now.
“The response to the fundraiser from everyone has been so helpful, and reassuring that we are doing the right thing.
“A lot of people still don’t know how badly I’m struggling. The only one who comes round to visit me is Jayne! The world carries on, that’s just the way life is.”
To which Jayne added: “I think folk forget about him, because they don’t see him out and about.
“I tell folk all the time ‘Mackay’s not doing great, he’s got MS,’ but it’s not until they see a photo of him and then they go ‘Oh my, I didn’t realise it was that bad’. You can tell folk until you’re blue in the face that it’s bad, but until they see him, they just don’t realise.”
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Graham said: “I used to be called Fat Mackay! I was always called that, and I didn’t mind it! That’s what folk recognised me as, and that’s what I recognised myself as too.
“But I’ve lost so much weight… I’m basically down to 10.5 stone. I haven’t been 10.5 stone since I was 12 years old!
“I worked as a joiner for 33 years, and I loved it. It was my life, basically.
“It is tough. We are getting on with it though. I am focused on Mexico, and that’s what’s going to pull me through.”
To donate to Graham Mackay’s fundraiser, visit: https://tinyurl.com/yf9sr47u