A MAN whose life has been turned upside down by a rare brain disease is hoping specialist physiotherapy will help him and other sufferers.

Andrew Hulkes, 58, of Church Road, Rayleigh, is among 3,000 people in the UK suffering from multiple system atrophy (MSA), a neurodegenerative disease that leads to premature death and causes problems with movement, balance and the automatic functions of the body, such as bladder and blood pressure control.

Those with MSA sometimes say this devastating disease can result in them becoming trapped in their own body.

Mr Hulkes was diagnosed in August, 2012, and is now confined to a wheelchair because of the incurable condition. He said: “I first began to get symptoms in 2004, but it wasn’t diagnosed until much later.

“I first noticed it when I was doing the London to Paris three-day cycle. I had symptoms like asthma and finished up in a wheezing heap on the ground.

“That was the first real sign something was wrong. They thought it was my heart at first, but ruled that out and then found out it was MSA.

“I am virtually wheelchairbound now. I have no balance or strength, and can’t control my blood pressure and temperature.”

Mr Hulkes, a retired commercial property developer and surveyor, set out to help the 40 or so Essex sufferers of MSA by raising £25,000 for physiotherapy equipment.

They nowhave access to free physiotherapy treatment with aGigerMD, a specialist piece of equipment which helps ease the symptoms of the illness – thanks to Mr Hulkes’s efforts and the generosity of his friends and colleagues, including business support company ESL, in Brentwood, which donated £10,000.

Mr Hulkes discovered the treatment while researching the disease. He said: “This physio encourages a process called nuero plasticity when the body tries to right itself by transferring good nerves to carry out the function of the bad nerves. This encourages that process but, of course, the good nerves run out eventually.

“The only other public GigerMD is in Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Buckinghsamshire, where they use it for other nuerological conditions like MS, Parkinson’s disease and strokes.

“MSA will get me in the end, but by going down this route it will benefit hundreds of patients, even if it turns out to be no use to me. It can help people with the other conditions as well.”

The equipment will be available at Benfleet Physiotherapy Practice.

Mr Hulkes added: “I’m grateful to everyone who donated, but ESL’s contribution has floored me. I’m passionate about improving the lives of people with MSA.

While medical science can’t cure the disease, and that is likely to remain true for a long time, the GigerMD could perhaps ease our journey.

Benfleet Physiotherapy Practice has agreed it would locate the GigerMD there and not only offer therapy to MSA sufferers free of charge, but also provide rehabilitation services to anyone suffering with a neurological condition.”

Virginia Freeman, director of commercial development at ESL, said: “Andrew is very dear to us.

“His strength of character and tenacity in his huge effort to fund the GigerMD is an example of dedication and passion for a great cause. ESL is delighted to help Andrew achieve his mission.”

Katie Heyward, the MSA Trust’s head of fundraising, said: “We are delighted Andrew has met his fundraising target and are taken aback by ESL’s generosity.”

MULTIPLE system atrophy is a progressive neurological disorder affecting men and women.

It is caused by degeneration, or atrophy, of nerve cells in several (or multiple) areas of the brain. This can result in problems with movement, balance and automatic functions of the body, such as bladder and blood pressure control.

Around 55 per cent of cases occur in men, with typical age of onset in the late fifties to early sixties.

MSA often has some of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

However, MSA patients generally show minimal, if any, response to the dopamine medications used for Parkinson’s.

The Multiple System Atrophy Trust is the main