THE widow of footballer Frank Kopel has told how she sobbed as the First Minister announced her personal care campaign would help thousands of Scots.
At least 9,000 people are expected to benefit from a law change extending free personal care to under-65s with degenerative conditions.
Nicola Sturgeon announced the move on Tuesday and the policy will take affect by April 2019.
Amanda Kopel launched her campaign after her husband, an ex-Dundee United player, was diagnosed with early onset dementia. He died aged 65 in 2014 just weeks after qualifying for state help.
Health Secretary Shona Robison visited Kopel’s Kirriemuir home yesterday, prompting her to say she was “absolutely over the moon,” adding: “There are no words in the dictionary that explain how I felt on Tuesday when I heard the First Minister announce that they were going to deliver Frank’s Law.
“I just started sobbing, turned to a photograph of Frankie and, to be honest, I never heard the rest of the First Minister’s speech. These were words which for 51 months Frank and I had hoped and prayed that we would hear.
“[It was] a big, big moment – not just for me, not just for Frankie, but for all the under-65s in Scotland who have been living in hope for these words to be spoken.
“Frank was a defender and never scored many goals but he scored a match winner against Anderlecht in the Uefa cup and now I know how he felt.”
Robison described her host “a very inspiring, tenacious lady”.
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