What do we want?
Vitamin D
When do we want it?
Now!
- Ryan McLaughlin Leading March to Parliament
Marching down the Royal Mile, sun shining, surrounded by saltire faced children brandishing ‘1p for Vitamin D’ posters, we pushed the youngest ‘braveheart’ towards the Scottish Parliament in support of the Shine on Scotland campaign.
Smiling policeman blocked off the road ensuring the safety of the children. Office workers hung out of windows to get a clear view of the happy horde below. Tourists froze to take the perfect picture of the young kilted teenager calling on people to join him in his walk to parliament.
Ryan McLaughlin led the march to hand in his petition to Parliament. The petition calls on Parliament to give all pregnant women and school children in Scotland Vitamin D supplements to help reduce multiple sclerosis in Scotland. Ryan McLaughlin is the teenage son of our friends Kirsten and Alan. Kirsten was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) two years ago. She is one of the bravest people I have ever met and a former European Taekwondo champion.
Kirsten’s is a fighter, her facebook quote is … “Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life and when it comes, hold your head high, look it squarely in the eye and say, I will be bigger than you. I will defeat U.”
- Kirsten McLaughlin interviewed by the BBC
The McLaughlin family are inspiring. Scotland is believed to have the highest rate of MS in the world. Some have even branded MS, the “Scottish Disease.” Ryan and his family want to reduce the number of people suffering from MS in Scotland by campaigning for all children to receive supplements of vitamin D, which is believed by experts to help prevent MS.
Ryan has handed in the petition and had a meeting with cabinet secretary Nicola Sturgeon. The Shine on Scotland campaign has attracted worldwide attention and been reported on the BBC, The Times and the Daily Record.
Here is the Virgin news video reporting on the march to parliament and Ryan McLaughlin’s campaign.
Shine On Scotland You Tube Video
