Thursday 30 June 2016 07:58, UK
Former Rangers player Fernando Ricksen has announced the launch of a foundation to raise funds to provide support for those with Motor Neurone Disease and their families.
Motor Neurone Disease is a crippling and ultimately fatal condition, which causes the degeneration of the body's motor nerve cells. Ricksen was diagnosed with the disease in 2013.
Despite being given just 15 months to live at the time, the Dutchman has vowed he will continue to fight the debilitating disease.
Since his diagnosis, Ricksen has raised more than £80,000 for the charity MND Scotland, but now he is backing a new campaign bearing his name.
A statement read: "At the time of the diagnosis, I was given somewhere between a year and 18 months to live.
"Now, two years and eight months later, I'm still here - and literally fighting for my life. During this period, I have found out exactly what it means to live with MND every day.
"Every hour of every day, the people closest to me - and myself - share that experience, and every day we do everything in our power to fight this demon.
"Another thing that keeps me going is the support and love from people around the world. I feel it and, believe me, it is a big help.
"Since my diagnosis, I have worked hard to raise awareness for the MND foundations. I have also used my time to raise money. But the money I have raised has been used mainly for research. And having lived with this demon for so long, I have realised that people need help now.
"All monies raised through the Fernando Ricksen Foundation will be used to help MND patients and their families. It will not go to seemingly never-ending research.
"I want to try and make the time that patients and their families have left together as comfortable as possible. You can help me make this dream become a reality."
For more information, contact by e-mail: info@fernandoricksenfoundation.org or visit the website www.fernandoricksenfoundation.org
