A WILMSLOW dad who is suffering from a debilitating disease which will leave him unable to speak to three year old son, has raised more than £9,000 towards equipment that will help him communicate.

Father of one, Richard Neill, 48, launched a GoFundMe campaign a fortnight ago with the hope of raising £10,000 to fund an Eyegaze system and cover rising health costs for his Motor Neurone Disease(MND).

In just eight days, the crowdfunding effort, raised pledges from people in Wilmslow and beyond. worth more than £9,000.

Many people have been touched by Richard's diary blog to his son Joao-Luca, which he had set up to explain to him in future years how much he loves him.

The machine could now give him the ability to speak with his son long after his ability to speak or communicate have gone

Richard said: "My son Joao-Luca doesn’t have a daddy who can play football with him or even lift him up to hug him.

"Physically and emotionally MND leaves you exhausted and I am still coming to terms with what it means to be creating a memory box for my son."

It is hoped that Richard will be able to invest in a computer which is an eye-operated communication and control system, that enables people with disabilities to communicate and interact with the world.

By looking at control keys or cells displayed on a screen, Richard will be able to generate speech either by typing a message or selecting pre-programmed phrases once his hands and voice no longer work as they should.

Motor Neurone Disease is a progressive disease that attacks the motor neurones and leads to muscle wasting and eventual paralysis.

There is no cure, and in most cases life expectancy is three to five years after diagnosis. Having been diagnosed with MND in 2012,

Richard retired from teaching and was forced to dip into family savings to ensure his home was wheelchair friendly and suitable for his health needs.

Richard, who relies on the use of a powered wheelchair explained: "As I have quickly discovered, serious illness doesn’t just affect the one diagnosed; it also has a devastating impact on the entire family. Our dreams of a normal life have been shattered.

Richard adds: "I now have a team of carers who help with day-to-day tasks such as showering, shaving and daily physio. All of this has to be funded ourselves and my benefits do not cover our monthly care costs.

"The support already shown to us in the last week has been absolutely amazing and very moving, and if the community can continue to help us in any way, we would be so grateful."