NEIGHBOURS have banded together to show their support for a friend who should have died four years ago.

Sixty-four-year-old Paul Wilkinson has motor neuron disease and was told by doctors in 2003 that he only had three years to live.

But Paul, who has four children and three grandchildren, defied the odds and is still busy raising awareness of the disease and fundraising.

Swindon mayor Rex Barnett presented him with a £150 cheque, representing money donated by his fellow residents in Chiltern Gardens, a sheltered accommodation block.

“It’s a wonderful surprise,” said Paul. “It’s certainly a great honour for me – I can’t tell you how much it means to me. It’s not about money, it’s about awareness and inspiring other people.”

Paul’s neighbour Dorothy Tenty, 85, organised the collection because she was so impressed by Paul’s attitude to his illness.

She said: “Nobody has any idea of the courage and determination that Paul’s got. Nobody could be more determined – he’s an inspiration to me.”

MND is a progressive disease that attacks the motor neurons, the nerve cells which form the pathway upon which impulses pass from the brain to other parts of the body.

This leads to weakness and wasted muscles and affects speech, mobility, breathing and swallowing.

Paul, who uses a wheelchair, has a weakened voicebox and must force air out of his lungs and through the voicebox to speak. Although this is painful, Paul says he would rather do this than type into a machine, as, famously, fellow MND sufferer Prof Stephen Hawking does.

Only one in 10 people with MND lives beyond 10 years of diagnosis.

But Paul has been told by doctors that his condition seems to have stopped progressing and has not spread to his upper body yet.

Paul said: “MND is progressive so at some time, it will come back, but all I know is that for whatever reason it seems to have halted.

“I know I’m a healthier, stronger person – not because my motor neuron disease is not progressing, but because of my spirit, my will to survive to do as much as I can to raise awareness and funds.”

Paul has organised a Charities on Fire fundraising day at the County Ground athletic track between 8am and 8pm on August 1 and is inviting people to run, walk or roll around the track with him.

All money raised will go to the MND Association. Paul will also be collecting for MND at Asda at the Orbital Shopping Centre on August 14. To sign up to the Charities of Fire event or to sponsor Paul, call 01793 694111.