A FAMILY has launched a desperate appeal to raise £100,000 to get a man living with Multiple Sclerosis vital stem cell treatment.

Richard Hollingsworth has been living with the debilitating neurological condition for about five years.

He was diagnosed by a doctor after suffering with aches and pains all over his body a number of years before.

Mr Hollingsworth, 51, is now living at the Seven Rivers care home in Great Bromley, as he can no longer take care of himself.

His stepdad, Derek Allen, from Eight Ash Green, said his only hope of recovery is to get a stem cell transplant.

However, it will cost £100,000 perform the operation abroad.

He said: “We want to raise the money as this operation is his only hope.

“He needs to have an assessment first but we want to have the money there ready so he can have the procedure.

“He is virtually bed-ridden, he doesn’t really have a life any more as he is in bed all day.”

Richard’s mum, Barbara, and his brothers all go to visit him at the care home. They have to assist him with everyday tasks such as eating as his hands shake so much.

Mr Hollingworth used to work as a gardener but became unemployable after the Multiple Sclerosis got worse.

His family said stem cell treatment was his last chance of living a normal life.

The procedure would reset the immune system to stop it attacking the central nervous system.

It uses chemotherapy to remove the harmful immune cells and then rebuild the immune system using a type of stem cell found in your bone marrow.

The haematopoietic stem cells used in the treatment can produce all the different cells in the blood, including immune cells.

The family are appealing for support. Anyone wanting to donate can go to justgiving.com/crowdfunding/rick-hollingsworth.

Any money raised over and above the amount needed for Richard’s treatment will go to Multiple Sclerosis Research.