A CHEF is trying to raise £40,000 for an operation to tackle a rare form of multiple sclerosis.

Tony Cunningham, 41, has been accepted on to the waiting list for a haematopoietic stem cell transplant in Moscow, in October 2016 after being told the UK had few options to cope with primary progressive multiple sclerosis. He was diagnosd in May.

He hopes the operation will slow the incurable condition. In July, Steve Holt, who lives in Rayleigh, became the first UK man to have the treatment .

Mr Cunningham, of Langemore Way, Billericay, said: “With progressive MS, there is no actual treatment available in the UK and no drugs you can take to help.

“They are starting running some trials over here, but it can take years to go through, so it is frustrating to think you have to spend £40,000 going to Russia to get this treatment that could be available on the NHS.

“At the end of the day, you can’t put a price on health, especially as my partner has seen it all before with her mum.”

Partner, Anita Lancaster, 41, was the sole carer for her mum, who had the same rare type of MS and died aged 49.

The couple, childhood sweethearts at Greensward School, Hockley, have been together for six years.

He said: “The doctor sent me to a neurologist and we knew it was either a brain tumour or MS. The MRI scan came back with progressive MS, the worst kind. The worst thing of the diagnosis was to have to share that with Anita, as she has been through it all. Her mum had a particularly aggressive form and I knew I had to put Anita through it all again.”

Mr Cunningham had to stop work, but volunteers with Age UK and mentors children in care.

He raised more than £3,000 in one week. His other alternative, should the MS progress very quickly, is to have the op in Israel, where the waiting list is six months but the cost is £120,000.

To donate, and find out more, visit gofundme.com/tonyc