THE family and friends of a 44-year-old Bradford man struck down with an aggressive form of Motor Neurone Disease are to scale Ben Nevis this weekend to raise money for a charity helping to find a cure for the rare condition.

Richard Barrett, of Town Lane, Thackley, was hospitalised in November after suffering from breathing difficulties and having trouble using his hands for months.

Doctors then confirmed he had MND and he went on to spend four months between intensive care and the high dependency unit at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

In March he was moved to a care home in Saltaire, but his family are hoping he can be cared for at home in the near future. They are also fundraising for the Motor Neurone Disease Association to help raise awareness and to help find a cure.

Mum Denise Barrett said her son, who has two children -14-year-old Joshua and 15-year-old Molly - required permanent help breathing, that his hands had become like claws, and that his voice was also going.

"His brain is okay, but it's the rest of this body, she said: "It's a terminal illness and we don't know how long we have got, so every day is precious. We have had him home a few times, but we are pushing to get him home for good - that's what he wants. However, it's hard to get a care package for the 24-hour care he needs."

She described how his health deteriorated last year after first going to the doctors in March as he was losing weight and getting breathless. By August he was forced to give up working as a carer for autistic adults as his symptoms had become so severe. He was having to use a wheelchair to get about because he was so out of breath and doctors diagnosed that part of his lung had collapsed.

But it was not until November, when he was again hospitalised, that he was finally diagnosed with the aggressive form of MND.

Mrs Barrett, 66, who used to work in the catering department at Grattan's in Bradford, had her son living with her at the time the disease began to take hold, and hopes to do so again.

She said they had managed to take the father-of-two out on a few visits since he was transferred to the care home, including to watch his son Joshua play football in a cup final.

He also managed to attend the annual service last month held to remember the 56 football fans who died in the Bradford City fire disaster, something he liked to do every year as he had been at Valley Parade that day.

Family and friends are fundraising for the Motor Neurone Disease Association this weekend, with Mr Barrett's brother James, 41; son Joshua, a pupil at Whitcliffe Mount School in Cleckheaton; uncle Michael Ingleton, and friends Nigel Richardson and Steven Wilson, all taking part.

The group will travel to Scotland tomorrow and on Saturday will walk up Ben Nevis. They have been fundraising since February and have so far raised £500.

Donations can be made at gofundme.com/ldlal4.