A young north-east man, suffering from multiple sclerosis, is striving to raise money for revolutionary new treatment in Russia.
In just two years, Craig Annison, from Newmachar, has gone from being entirely independent to being unable to work and relying on a walking stick and wheelchair.
Now, the 30-year-old is desperate to raise funds which would allow him to travel to Moscow to receive stem cell treatment, and has said: “I refuse to believe that my life is over.”
The crowd-funding campaign to pay for the cutting-edge treatment hopes to raise £35,000.
Currently the page has amassed over £10,000 with £3,000 being raised in the first 24 hours.
Mr Annison explained: “I started the page to raise money to help pay for haemeotopathic stem cell treatment after doing the UK trials only to discover I did not meet the criteria.
“Since then, I found out it is available in other countries, with Russia being one of the best places to receive the treatment.
“The Go Fund Me page was set up because the treatment is private and the cost of it is around £35,000, so any financial help I could get for the treatment would be greatly appreciated.
“This stem cell treatment would be life changing and if it was to actually stop the progression of my MS, I couldn’t even put into words how that would feel.”
A number of people have launched their own fundraising events to help Mr Annison, for which he said he is “unbelievably happy”.
He added: “I am so grateful they will never know how they have changed my life. This treatment in Russia really is a second chance after being told in the UK that there was nothing I could do and I would just have to deal with it as it got worse.
“I wasn’t willing to stand for that. I have always been an independent person and I’m not going to let this disease destroy my life.
“I’m only 30 and I refuse to believe that my life is over.”
Mr Annison is due to fly to Moscow on September 6. To donate to Mr Annison’s page, visit:
https://www.gofundme.com/26wpfm5