STEVE Hoggarth will have his 47th birthday next month.

It might, sadly, be his last.

Steve has been diagnosed with the incurable muscle wasting condition Motor Neurone Disease.

But he is not giving up.

Instead he is asking for donations to St Helena Hospice and is hoping to receive as many birthday cards as possible.

Steve, who is married to wife, Cheryl, and has two children, Jason, 18, and Dani, 15, was diagnosed last year.

His brother, Chris, 43, from Mistley, said: “Last December, he went to see his doctor complaining of a muscle spasm on his left arm.

“After a series of tests, the diagnosis came through on March 4.

It’s hugely upsetting.”

Since then, Steve has deteriorated rapidly.

In less than a year, he has degenerated from being a Saturday and Sunday league footballer and cricketer, training to be a football referee to being wheelchairbound and in need of 24/7 care.

And no-one knows how long Steve has left.

Chris said: “He has a hospital bed on the ground floor and a team of carers call round each morning and night.

“Getting him out is difficult. He can’t move his legs. It’s a condition that gets rapidly worse.”

The former maintenance manager for Colchester-based Horizon Construction soon had to give up work to spend as much time as possible with his family.

Chris continued: “The thing with MND is every case is different.

“There’s no track, no life expectancy.

It’s regarded as a terminal condition but we do not know how long he has.

“Steve has to have an oxygen mask to breathe, he’s become dependent on that.

“There’s a real possibility this could be his last birthday.”

Chris said Steve was determined not to give up. “My brother has had a tremendous amount of help from the MND Association and St Helena Hospice.”

And he said Steve, from Colchester, would like him to receive as many birthday cards as he can get for his birthday.

A Justgiving fundraising page has also been set up which has received just over £100 towards a £1,000 target.

On it Steve, who has difficulty speaking now, said: “I hate MND!

“It’s rubbish and has no cure.

“I want to help those who are helping me and and will help others when they cannot help me any longer.

“On February 4, I will be 47.

“I don’t know how many more birthdays I will have.”

He continued: “My fight goes on and on, and I won’t give up. I need help from these amazing people to continue that fight.

“Please help and please pass this on. If everyone who saw this donated £5, we’d raise so much that would help so many people.”

The just giving page is at justgiving.com/fundraising/SteveHoggarth-MND47.

The hospice just giving page is www.justgiving.com/stevehoggarth-sthelenahospice47

Anyone who would like to send a birthday card can do so to 3 Perth Close, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8UH.