Shinty star opens up about living life with MND

One of the game’s most respected players, shinty has always played a huge part in Lachlan’s life and he started going to primary school shinty training as a seven-year-old. It wasn’t long before he forced his way into the Lochaber first team as a 14-year-old in 1992.

“My shinty career was very frustrating,” said Lachlan. “I never got to where I wanted to be with it and there were a lot of epic failures, unfortunately.

“I had high hopes of winning something significant, but it never quite happened. I did win North Division 1, the National Division and the Balliemore Cup on a few occasions and played for the national team over three international games.”

However, it’s a memory that dates further back that Lachlan offers when asked about a shinty career highlight.

“It was as a junior when a group of us from Spean went to play juvenile shinty with Glengarry where we had a very successful spell under the late, great Ewan Cameron’s guidance. Not only did we win things, but the craic was brilliant,” he said.  

Lachlan played his final senior game against Kyles Athletic at Tighnabruaich at the end of the 2019 season.

“We went down to play them with a team that was cobbled together,” he said.

“We had no substitutes and I remember Kirsty Delaney played as did my son Max who was only 15 at the time.

“We really outplayed Kyles and should have won the game, but I think they equalised in the last five minutes because by that time, we had suffered a few injuries and had no subs to bring on.”

As for what the future brings, Lachlan is realistic. He said: “I know I can’t keep working much longer in what is a manual, labour job so what I want to do is start a competition for prizes to raise funds and I will give the majority of the profits to families who are struggling financially to deal with the MND disease.

“I know how difficult it is to keep working to pay the bills when you are suffering from this disease.

“I’ve already started a draw on my Facebook page for a bottle of Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1991. If this first raffle proved popular I am hoping to grow this as a frequent fundraiser with everyone’s help.”

Indeed, the prize on offer is a desirable 27-year-old bottle of Glenmorangie which Lachlan says has a recommended retail price of £650.

The competitions will be called MND Prizes (Mind Not Defeated).

Lachlan added: “I hope to get a website and social media presence up and running within the next six months but at the moment the raffle can be viewed on my personal Facebook page.

“I also want to be careful with this as moving forward this will be my source of income and I don’t want to feel I’m a charity case so I’m being upfront and saying that not all profits will go to other families but the majority will and I hope the money raised can make peoples’ lives that bit easier.

“I’ve had a few ideas about how to do this and I want to respect people’s privacy.  I didn’t want people knowing my diagnosis for a long time and a lot of people might feel the same.

“I have a dedicated MND nurse who visits periodically and he has other patients so I will ask him to ask other people suffering if they will accept help.

“My worry is that pride might get in the way and I might feel the same which leads to transparency as I feel it’s important for people to see the money going to where I’m telling them it’s going.

“But if it came to it sending the money anonymously might be the only way but time will tell on that front.”

Tickets cost £5 each and details of how they can be purchased, including bank transfer are on Lachlan Campbell’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/lachlan.campbell.1460) and have been shared by many shinty clubs offering their support.

Lachlan appreciates the support: “To all my friends and family, thank you very much for all your help and hopefully we can make someone else a bit more comfortable during their final days,” he added. 

“I’m one of the lucky ones as I’ve had three years since I was diagnosed and a lot of people don’t get anywhere near that time.”