Tim in a life or death race to raise £60,000 (From Warrington Guardian)

Tim in a life or death race to raise £60,000

A FORMER Grange School and Sir John Deane's College student is facing a life or death race against time.

Tim Loosemore, aged 25, could die before he is 40, after being diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Friedrichs Ataxia.

But he has been given a sliver of hope in his fight against the condition - the prospect of a cure.

He is desperate to raise £60,000 that will fund research into the condition, which has left him in a wheelchair.

Tim, who lives in Knutsford, said: "I went from walking to stumbling to being in a wheelchair in a relatively short space of time.

"It is frustrating because my body is deteriorating but my mental capacity is not affected at all and my mind is still buzzing all the time."

He went to The Grange School and Sir John Deane's College before studying for a British and French accountancy degree.

He said: "There are people I went to school with who would be horrified to see me as I am now.

"It takes me one and a half hours to get up in the morning and I rarely go out anywhere."

It is believed the condition only affects one in 50,000 people in the UK.

And now Tim is desperate to raise awareness of the disorder after being told there could be a cure.

His mum Mary said: "Someone has come up with an idea which might provide a cure or actually reverse the condition.

"We don't know much about the details because it is complicated but it is a start and something to give us some hope.

Cruel

"This is such a cruel thing to happen to anyone."

Money to fund research into the disorder, which slowly reduces mobility, independence, speech, sight and hearing, is limited but the extra cash might help to fund further research by a national support group.

Tim said: "I feel it is now or never and hope if people know more about it then they will be more willing to help."

Anyone interested in making a donation can call Joel Sawyer at the Northwich Guardian on 01606 43333.

jsawyer@guardiangrp.co.uk