A WIRRAL man suffering progressive multiple sclerosis is seeking urgent help in raising £50,000 for ground-breaking treatment in Mexico.

Wheelchair-bound Steve McGrath, 57, was first diagnosed the disorder in 2009 but does not meet criteria necessary to receive stem cell treatment in the UK.

Wirral Globe:

Steve with wife Janet, who said: 'I just want my husband back'

Although being refused Haematopoietic Stem Cell Treatment on the NHS, Steve has been accepted in Mexico.

A campaign has so far raised £7,000 but more is needed for the potentially life-changing trip.

Steve from Bromborough said: “People are saying it makes a big difference overnight.

"I may be one of the unlucky ones - though potentially I could die from this treatment.

"But I’m going to take this chance – the quality of my MS life is virtually none existent.”

An active husband, father and grandfather, Steve had completed the Three Peaks and Triathlon challenge twice for charity and competed in racquetball leagues while working at Unilever.

He continued: “As I have primary progressive MS I deteriorate quickly over time.

"If I can get on a cancellation list, it’ll be an eight-week wait. If I can get there early we can stop it in its tracks.

“Wheelchair-bound is no life for me. I can’t dress myself, clean myself,

"It’s not life at all – so any glimmer of hope, you’ll just jump at it.”

When returning from Mexico Steve will need post-treatment care to ensure his immune system can fight-off infection.

Steve's wife Janet said: "We got onto Facebook and found a few pages about HSCT.

"The treatment is available all around the world - we follow one woman from Wigan who went to Mexico, just like Steve hopes to do, and the results have been phenomenal. I just want my husband back."

Her husband's plight is explained on a website called "Steve's Story." 

Family friend Deborah Puddephatt said: “I kept repeating that we need to get Steve’s Story out there -  we want people to know about Steve but were mindful there is a deadline.

“We put a committee together to support Steve’s Story and have plans for a launch event on October 7, at Port Sunlight Rugby Club.”

To help Steve get his treatment in Mexico visit: www.stevesstory.co.uk