Motor neurone disease signs and symptoms: Deal or No Deal viewers raise £80k for contestant
A 29-year-old man with motor neurone disease (MND) left Deal or No Deal viewers "heartbroken" after he left the show with just £5. Brad Wale appeared on the popular game show with hopes of winning money so he can fulfil his bucket list after he was diagnosed with the irreversible condition.
On the show, Wale told host Stephen Mulhern: "This is my life. I've always had such bad luck. Nothing changes, I should have expected this."
His situation clearly touches the hearts of both viewers and his fellow contestants. Rochelle Brown, who participated on the show with Wale, later launched a JustGiving page after the episode aired - and quickly raised tens of thousands of pounds to help Wale complete his list.
At the time of writing, the page has raised £80,700, soaring past its original goal of £20,000. Appearing on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday 6 December, Wale fought back tears as he thanked those who donated and said: "Last year, things changed quite a lot for me really, I was diagnosed with motor neurone disease... the prognosis isn't really that great."
MND is a fatal, rapidly progressing disease that affects the brain and spinal cord, attacking the nerves that control movement so muscles no longer work and currently, it has no cure, the MND Association said.
Wale's story comes after Coronation Street aired a storyline with the charity to portray one of its characters, Paul Foreman, as coping with the disease. Actor Peter said there is "so much responsibility" portraying such a character.
While he was initially shocked to discover the future of his character because the nature of the life-shortening disease will mean his eventual exit from the show, he says he's glad to be shining a light on the condition.
"I’ll be sad to leave the show, but also at the same time, happy to be involved in such a powerful storyline that hopefully will bring awareness," he adds.
Commenting on the storyline Chris James, director of external affairs at the MND Association, says: "We are really grateful to the team at Coronation Street for choosing to tackle this subject.
"Putting MND in front of six million viewers every week will raise incredible awareness and help educate people who have never come across the disease, showing the day-to-day reality of those living with it and the impact on friends, family and the wider community."
What is MND?
MND is a fatal neurological disease which attacks the nerves that control movement so muscles no longer work, according to the MND Association.
The charity says these nerves – motor neurones – control muscle activity like walking, speaking, swallowing and breaking.
But as they are attacked, the brain’s messages gradually stop reaching muscles, leading to weakness and wasting followed by severe paralysis and breathing difficulties.
The MND Association says mental abilities and senses are not usually affected as the body degenerates.
The astrophysicist Professor Stephen Hawking had the condition for many decades.
What are the early symptoms of MND?
The NHS says MND symptoms occur gradually so may not be obvious at first.
Early symptoms can include:
weakness in your ankle or leg – you might trip, or find it harder to climb stairs
slurred speech, which may develop into difficulty swallowing some foods
a weak grip – you might drop things, or find it hard to open jars or do up buttons
muscle cramps and twitches
weight loss – your arms or leg muscles may have become thinner over time
difficulty stopping yourself from crying or laughing in inappropriate situations
You should see a GP if you have possible early symptoms of motor neurone disease, such as muscle weakness. It's unlikely you have motor neurone disease, but getting a correct diagnosis as early as possible can help you get the care and support you need.
Risk factors of MND
Motor neurone disease is an uncommon condition that mainly affects people in their 60s and 70s.
According to the MND Association, six people are diagnosed every day in the UK with the condition affecting about 5,000 people in the UK.
The organisation says it can affect any adult at any age, although most people are diagnosed over the age of 50 and men are at higher risk.
The NHS says having a close relative with motor neurone disease, or a related condition called frontotemporal dementia, can sometimes mean you're more likely to get it.
But it does not run in families in most cases.
While the NHS says it is caused by a problem with cells in the brain and motor neurones, it is not known why these cells and neurones gradually stop working over time.
How is MND treated and can it be cured?
There is no cure for MND and it is always fatal, according to the MND Association.
How long people live with the disease varies, with the charity saying more than half of those diagnosed die within two years.
But some survive for years, and even decades, like Professor Stephen Hawking, who lived for 50 more years after being diagnosed aged 21.
MND can be treated with occupational therapy, physiotherapy, a medicine called riluzole and medication to relieve muscle stiffness and help with saliva problems, the NHS says.
For more information, visit the NHS website.
For support, you can visit the Motor Neurone Disease Association or call the Brain & Spine Foundation on 0808 808 1000.
Additional reporting PA.
Read more about MND:
Motor neurone disease has left me unable to speak, walk or feed myself but I’m determined to enjoy life (Yahoo Life UK, 7-min read)
I know how cruel motor neurone disease can be – the Dimbleby interview is the most powerful thing I've heard (The Telegraph, 4-min read)
Strenuous exercise increases motor neurone disease risk in genetically vulnerable, study suggests (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read)
