AN EAST Lothian fundraiser, who raised nearly £325,000 by walking more than 200 miles, has been presented with a top award by a Scottish rugby legend.

Norman Yarrow, from Gullane, raised money last year for Parkinson’s UK and The Cure Parkinson’s Trust by walking from Portpatrick, on Scotland’s west coast, to Cockburnspath in just 14 days.

The 215-mile walk came two years after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s – the day after his 25th wedding anniversary in September 2013 – and whilst still recovering from a lung cancer operation earlier that year.

The 55-year-old was motivated to fundraise in the hope of finding a cure in his lifetime.

Norman, formerly of Gifford, is the latest recipient of a Point of Light award, which recognises outstanding individual volunteers, people who are making a change in their community and inspiring others.

Every week day, Prime Minister David Cameron recognises an inspirational volunteer with the award.

Each day, someone, somewhere in the country is selected to receive the award to celebrate their achievements.

Prime Minister David Cameron explained his admiration for Norman and said: “Norman has shown incredible strength and determination in his response to his diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease.

“By undertaking ‘Norman’s Conquest’, he has not only raised a fantastic amount of money to try to find a cure for this debilitating condition, he has also inspired a huge number of people to join his cause and raised awareness about the disease.

“I am delighted to recognise Norman as the UK’s 452nd Point of Light.”

Last year’s walk saw Norman joined by a team of eight fundraisers on ‘Norman’s Conquest’.

Together, they encountered sun, snow, rain and hail over steep and rugged terrain to complete the mammoth walk from Wigtownshire to the Scottish Borders in just a fortnight.

Norman’s Parkinson’s reduces his agility on the right-hand side of his body but during the walk his movement improved.

Norman was supported by 240 people throughout the challenge, including Scottish rugby legend Gavin Hastings, who handed over the award; Katherine Crawford, the head of Parkinson’s UK; Helen Mathews, COO of Cure Parkinson’s Trust; and Iain Gray MSP. He had three aims – raise money, raise awareness and make friends. The walk achieved all of these and Norman beat his original fundraising target by more than double after receiving donations from across the world.

He told the Courier: “I am honoured to accept this award and would like to thank in particular my wife Carol, who did a fantastic job with all the logistics during the walk. I would also like to thank the eight others who completed the full walk for giving up two weeks of their lives and giving me endless encouragement, and everyone who participated by taking part or giving donations.

“I would like to thank the two Parkinson’s charities for all their support and wish them well with their efforts to find medication that will slow down, arrest or even reverse the impact of Parkinson’s disease. There are 130,000 people with Parkinson’s disease in the UK, so there are many of us in the same boat hoping for a medical break-through.”