00:00I grew up in the small rural village of Bettyhill on the north coast of the Scottish Highlands.
00:05Like many children growing up in rural Scotland during the 1980s,
00:08my life revolved around family, friends and being outdoors.
00:12I was a typical 80s kid.
00:14If I wasn't at school I was out with my two best friends getting up to no good.
00:18I would leave the house at 7am and only come home when I needed something to eat.
00:22However, just before my 8th birthday, my life changed forever.
00:26I began experiencing spasms in my right arm which I could not control.
00:31Within 6 months they had spread to my right leg and caused a very noticeable limp.
00:36Kids being kids, some began making fun of me.
00:39But my closest friends remained loyal.
00:41Medical tests repeatedly failed to explain what was happening.
00:45While the spasms gradually spread throughout the rest of my body.
00:49The happy-go-lucky child I had been slowly became resentful as I watched my friends' lives continue as normal.
00:54At the age of 10 I was finally diagnosed with idiopathic torsion dystonia.
00:59A neurological movement disorder characterised by sustained involuntary muscle contractions.
01:05By then my legs were too weak to support me and I needed to use a wheelchair permanently.
01:09I could no longer simply leave the house for hours.
01:12Instead, I needed help with almost everything.
01:15From getting dressed to having a drink.
01:17In many ways, I was starting life all over again.
01:20I was taking so much medication that it often felt as though I was living underwater.
01:25Then I discovered 80s rock music.
01:27And especially Bon Jovi.
01:29The music gave me something I had been missing for years.
01:32Freedom.
01:33It allowed my body to respond to the music without me worrying about what anyone else might think.
01:38For the first time in a long time, I felt like myself again.
01:41With the right medication and all the bad medicine I could get from Bon Jovi, I have been able to
01:46build a life I once never imagined possible.
01:48At 15, I left home to attend boarding school where I completed my secondary education.
01:55I then went on to college for five years and earned two A levels.
01:59In 2002-03, I was lucky enough to get tickets to see Bon Jovi on the bounce tour at Hyde
02:04Park in London.
02:06Hearing the band perform live was beyond anything I could put into words.
02:10Sadly, I have never had the opportunity to see them live again.
02:14Today, I live at Cheshire House in Inverness, close to the shores of the world-famous Loch Ness.
02:20Although life has taken me on an unexpected journey, the Highlands have always been home.
02:25When Bon Jovi announced that they would be returning to Scotland to perform at Murrayfield, I immediately tried to buy
02:30accessible tickets.
02:32Unfortunately, accessible tickets are extremely limited and sell out very quickly, and I was unable to get one.
02:38I had tried to make it happen under my own steam and was disappointed to miss out.
02:42But I never imagined that.
02:44Only a short time later, my circumstances would change so dramatically.
02:48I turned 45 in February and have since been diagnosed with terminal small cell carcinoma of the bladder.
02:55It is a rare form of cancer for which there is no curative treatment, and my care is now palliative.
03:00I have never asked for charity or sympathy.
03:04I have always tried to live my life with determination, independence, humour, and the support of the people around me.
03:10I did everything I could to make seeing Bon Jovi live again happen myself.
03:15Unfortunately, it wasn't to be.
03:17So with a little courage and a lot of hope, John, if you see this, I am asking whether you
03:21might be able to help me fulfil one final bucket list wish and relive one of the greatest experiences of
03:27my life by getting me to Murrayfield to see you one last time.
03:31If that's not possible, even a short video message or a quick video call would be amazing.
03:35Thank you for taking the time to read my story.
03:38The Guards, Donald Munro
03:44You're just trying your best to run into absolutely everything.
03:47Oh, OK.
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