Retired IT expert Brian West can no longer write or type, having lost the basic skills needed for his job. He also struggles to breathe, just two years after completing the London marathon with wife Elsa, a fellow member of Macclesfield Harriers. It is the reality of life with motor neurone disease for Brian, who was diagnosed with the illness in April 2025.
Support from East Cheshire Hospice
Elsa's friend recommended the wellbeing days at East Cheshire Hospice for MND patients. The couple are so glad she did. The sessions have guided them through a difficult process, providing help and reassurance. Brian said: “We decided we were going to face this head on and wouldn’t bury our head in the sand.”
Monthly MND Sessions
Brian added: “The MND hospice days are friendly, welcoming and caring. Everyone says it’s the best day of the month when we get together. No-one is afraid to talk about MND. We compare symptoms, what we’re going through and how we deal with things. A lot of MND patients lose use of their arms so cannot save themselves if they trip or fall. I spent my career in IT, typing at a keyboard but I can’t control my fingers anymore.”
Fundraising for Home Adaptations
The couple set up an ongoing GoFundMe campaign WestWarriorsMND and hope to raise enough funds to adapt their Gawsworth home for Brian’s progressive medical needs. Brian, who now uses an electric wheelchair, said: “Elsa is a child minder and needs to work. I was the main breadwinner but lost my income due to my condition.”
