A charity poolathon is set to take place to honour a West Cumbrian artist with Motor Neurone Disease.
Craig Hamilton, 57, of Workington, a popular local artist and tattooist, was diagnosed with Progressive Bulbar Palsy in December 2024.
He has since lost his speech and finds eating and drinking very difficult, but he has recently had a surgery to help with this.
Motor Neurone Disease affects the brain and nerves and causes progressive muscle weakness over time. There is currently no cure.
To honour Craig’s battle against the disease, his good friend Stuart Robertson, 46, of Workington, is now set to host a 24-hour poolathon on Friday July 16.
The poolathon will start at 6pm on the Friday and will finish at 9pm on Saturday, July 18.
It will raise money for Motor Neurone Disease Association as well as helping raise more awareness of the disease and Craig’s story.
Stuart said: “I have seen Craig’s attitude and his way of living and I’ve seen what he goes through on a daily basis and he has truly changed how I see life.
“I wanted to do something to raise awareness and give back and I have played pool and golf with Craig for many years, so it really came from that.
“But Craig will be there on the day and he will play the first hour and the last hour, so he will open and close the event with me.”
Craig was a professional golfer for almost 25 years, starting out at 17 and later going on to build and develop Whitehaven Golf Club in 2000.
He was a PGA professional at Brampton, St Anne’s, Eden and Keswick golf clubs. He is also a keen pool player.
Craig then set up his art gallery and tattoo studio Craig Hamilton Art in Cleator Moor in 2015. He completed his final tattoo last February.
Born in Carlisle, he now lives in Workington with his wife Louise and has three children, Rebecca 28, Leo 19 and Mikey, five.
Stuart said while Craig stepped away from pool around six years ago, this year he returned to the sport with Stuart’s team to play league pool once again.
He added that it makes the poolathon challenge even more fitting.
Stuart said: “This will be a huge challenge, both physically and mentally. If I’m honest, the physical side, the fatigue, the lack of sleep, will be tough.
“But when I think about the mental strength Craig shows every single day, and the positive attitude he brings to his own battle, it puts my challenge into perspective.
“If he can keep fighting with such strength, then I can push through 24 hours.
“Watching the way he has embraced life since his diagnosis has been a huge inspiration to me. He has shown me that life should be lived for today, because none of us know what challenges tomorrow might bring.
“This event is my way of doing something meaningful for him and everyone affected by MND.”
Craig’s friends describe him as an inspiration to everyone around him and that his good humour, bravery, determination and pride shine through the debilitating illness.
He also does not let it hold him back from playing pool and golf to a high standard, producing jaw-dropping art and even trying his hand at skateboarding.
Stuart added: “It’s important for us to raise awareness because we need to find ways to prolong peoples lives and help people live with and manage the condition.
“We need more research to help find a cure or find some sort of treatment.”
Craig started experiencing symptoms in early 2023 and was formally diagnosed in December 2025.
Craig said: “My first symptoms started early 2023. Doctors had no idea why my tongue was partially paralysed and took 19 months to diagnose me with Progressive Bulbar Palsy Motor Neurone Disease.
“When I was told on December 10 2025, it broke me into a thousand pieces. Since then I’ve lost my speech and just had a PEG feeding tube fitted, as I’m struggling to eat and drink so bad I’ve lost over two stone in weight.
“Muscles around my body are slowing disappearing as the disease progresses through me.
“I think keeping busy has helped me mentally and physically. I’ve had MND for over three years now and count myself lucky as I’m still independent, as some other people with MND with similar time frames are not.
“Playing golf and pool is getting me out of my shell and helping me socialise which is tough as it is so easy to shrink away and become an introvert.
“When I joined the pool team, I was made so welcome and the team are so supportive. I’m looking forward to supporting Stuart, it’s a great idea and something different.
“Golf has been in my life since I was 12 years old and I love it, unfortunately my body is declining, so this year will likely be my last playing, fingers crossed it’s not.”
Craig said he wants to raise awareness of the impact MND has on people’s lives.
He added: “It’s so important to keep MND in people’s minds as it’s a horrible, incurable disease. It impacts not just the person diagnosed with MND, but the families and friends around them.”
Stuart is looking for opponents to play half an hour or one hour slots and a £10 donation for playing him at the Conservative Club in Workington on Friday July 17 starting at 6pm.
He will play pool continuously over the 24-hour period and for every frame won, the opponent will donate an additional £1 to the charity pot.
You can support Stuart’s poolathon by donating here.
People are also welcome to come along, donate and spectate on the day.
