We are remembering Graeme by taking part in the Great Scottish Run festival on the 1st and 2nd of October.

Leo will be running his first official road race and participating in the Toddler Dash. Lilly, his niece, will run the Family Mile. I will run the 10k with my sister Kerry, my cousin Amy and Uncle Bill.

In tribute to Graeme's love of Superheroes and because we fully believe he was a true superhero throughout his illness and life,  Leo and Lilly will be running in Batman costumes. (Kerry may run in full Batman suit too)!

Graeme loved the Great Scottish Run, whether it was as a spectator watching me run or latterly as a participant with Uncle Bill. He always strived to beat his previous time. That's why we feel this is a good tribute to him.

It was Graeme's wish not to have flowers at his funeral but instead donations for NASS. He was diagnosed with AS about 13 years ago and from then on was proactive in managing his condition ( and at times his clinicians). He dabbled in different diets (but couldn't give up the red meat!), tried many types of medication and researched various types of exercises which would help to keep him mobile. 

Graeme found out about the local NASS exercise class and started to attend on a weekly basis. Through this, he was forced to do regular exercise but most of all, met a group of people facing similar difficulties on a daily basis. This led to him to gain a fuller understanding of the condition and what you could do to minimise  its limitations.

Over time, Graeme became the secretary and treasurer of this group and did his upmost to make sure that people with a diagnosis were made aware of the facility. He attended the local rheumatology interest group with physios and consultants to try and improve the treatment and support given to patients. He often spoke about how the associated conditions were treated separately and that this could have negative effects on other parts of the body - a holistic approach is necessary.  Grae even spoke at the Scottish Parliament representing AS sufferers.

As a pharmaceutical representative, Graeme had a good understanding of his condition and the drugs which could be used to treat it. He used this knowledge to inform discussions with his doctors when meds were not working for him and to provide advice to members at his group.

Through different medications, regular exercise and sheer drive and determination, Graeme's fitness really improved over the past few years going from needing help to put on his shoes to walk/running a 10k (the Great Scottish Run) twice and taking part in the Edinburgh Marathon relay team.

Graeme has been described as being motivational and inspirational by some members of his club and by family, friends and doctors throughout his recent illness. We hope, that by supporting NASS, many more people can be helped to become proactive and get the advice and support they need to lead as active a life as he did.