John's

Mito Mission

Based in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire

Hello, I’m John, from Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire. My story tells of how mitochondrial disease has affected lots of generations in my family, as our particular variation is maternally inherited.

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John's

Story.

August 2026

Hi, I’m John from Cumbernauld. Everyone in my family unfortunately has mitochondrial disease, on my mum’s side as our gene (A3243G) is maternally inherited. My older sister sadly died of mito in 2014.

Mum had some symptoms but testing

wasn’t available to her when she was alive.

Sadly, she died around 20 years ago. I have another older sister and an older brother who both have mito too, and a younger brother who lives in Switzerland.

I also have three nephews and a niece, but many of my family understandably aren’t sure about getting tested for mito.

My symptoms started when I was a child,

with sluggishness and fatigue.

I also get swollen limbs, especially my feet which has been treated with injections.

I also have restless legs, proximal myopathy and Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome, which causes episodes of fast heart rates (tachyarrhythmia).

I had a stroke on my left side, and a cyst was found in the left side of my brain. This means I go for an MRI every two years. I have lactic acidosis, chronic fatigue and I have to use a CPAP machine at night.

I live with my wife Pauline, who has mild cerebral palsy and rheumatoid arthritis, and I enjoy going out on Saturday nights to socialise and visiting my dad when I can.

I found My Mito Mission

through Facebook

and was excited to attend their Mito Community Day in Glasgow where I met other people impacted by mitochondrial disease.

I also learned about research happening

in Scotland and all over.

Meeting everyone and learning about the charity inspired me to start my own mission!

Any support is

very much appreciated

Get involved and

support John's cause.

Any funds raised by John’s mission goes to My Mito Mission’s
central funds to be granted towards research and support projects
to benefit everyone affected by mito.

Spreading the word, following, sharing, as well as donating and raising funds are all really helpful and valued. From running a race to holding a bake sale, hosting a collecting can to giving out John’s Mito Mission leaflets – there are so many ways in which you can get involved.

If you’d simply like to donate to John’s mission, choose a way that suits you below.

Be a Part of Project 1000 Strong

Regular donations are the most powerful way to support our vital work, allowing us as a small, high-energy charity to plan and build from a strong foundation.

Strengthening the future of mito awareness, support and research.

We need a 1000 strong team of amazing people to donate any amount from just £2 a month. 1000 is a lot, but – one by one – we know that we can reach it. Find out more here.