Scotland's best known anti-poverty campaigner Bob Holman has revealed he has a year to live after being diagnosed with the muscle-wasting disease Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
The former social worker and community activist has revealed that he was told he had MND in July, forcing him to miss an annual summer camp with Glasgow children in Lincolnshire for the first time in 39 years.
He was able to take part in the 25th anniversary celebrations of Family Action in Rogerfield and Easterhouse (FARE), the community project he helped establish, which recently took place at Glasgow's Crowne Plaza hotel.
Mr Holman said he is not afraid of death and is comforted by his faith: "MND is degenerative, progressive and life-shortening. I have been told I have about a year to live," he said.
"Of course I am upset but I am a Christian and I am thankful that I have lived a long life with years spent in community activities. Not least, I am with a wonderful family."
His diagnosis came after six months of unexplained health problems. Mr Holman previously survived a cancer diagnosis, having been in remission from Hodgkins Lymphoma since 2010.
The FARE event last week was attended by more than 200 people, including locals who had been diverted from gang violence, he said. "For me, the highlight was when a tough young man, in his thirties, lifted me up in the crowd, thanked me, and then prayed for me. In Easterhouse as a teenager, he had been a violent gang member who went to prison. He associated with Fare, became a volunteer and helper at camp. Today he is one of our staff. It has all been worthwhile."
Mr Holman is the author of several books including a life of Keir Hardie. He famously gave up a comfortable lifestyle as an academic to go and live in Easterhouse and carry out grassroots work in line with his Christian socialist principles. At one stage he was influential in Iain Duncan Smith's notorious epiphany in the deprived Glasgow scheme, although he later repudiated the former Tory leader. Meanwhile securing the support of the lifelong Labour supporter was a coup for the Yes campaign at the independence referendum (above).
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