Liam Jefferies, a 34-year-old office worker from Essex who previously worked on Savile Row, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in March 2026 after months of worsening symptoms that began with a tingling sensation in his feet.
Symptoms dismissed as minor
In May 2025, Jefferies first noticed a tingling sensation and slight weakness in his feet. Initially dismissing the symptoms as minor, the weakness rapidly progressed, causing him to trip frequently. “It was sort of tingling down my leg and I was catching my foot a lot,” he said. “And from there, it quite relatively quickly progressed to my left leg being, like, really hard to use.”
Last summer, during a walk with friends, he complained about the tingling and falling. Faye Couret-Wilson, who later set up a GoFundMe for him, recalled: “Naturally we laughed at him, like true friends would.”
Rapid deterioration
The tingling soon spread to Jefferies' arms and hands, and his mobility declined rapidly. “It was a matter of months before I was having to use a stick, then a walking frame, and then eventually a wheelchair because it was sort of compounded by the fact that I'm fairly tall,” he said. Everyday tasks became difficult, including commuting to London for work.
Diagnosis after 10-month ordeal
After seeking medical advice, Jefferies underwent a 10-month process of elimination to rule out other conditions, including multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN), which can mimic MND but is treatable. He received two rounds of MMN treatment, but when these failed, doctors confirmed MND in March 2026.
“I went into the hospital in London and when I was going in that day, I knew that I would have an answer,” he said. Despite the devastating news, the diagnosis brought a degree of certainty. “In a way, it was… I'm very reluctant to use the word relief, but it gave you a sort of an almost like a sense of closure, because it's the hope that will kill you,” he said.
Medication side effects
Jefferies' neurologist prescribed Riluzole to slow disease progression, but he experienced severe side effects including fatigue and additional weakness. His neurologist said the drug was not a cure, noting it could extend lifespan by an average of three to six months. Jefferies temporarily stopped the medication to regain energy before gradually reintroducing it.
Support and fundraising
Three months post-diagnosis, Jefferies continues to work remotely, describing his job as a “great distraction.” He joined a support group where he is the youngest member by far, and his condition has progressed faster than others. “I have spoken to people who have been diagnosed for, like, six years, and they can still sort of get about, and mine seems to have come on quite quickly and across my whole body,” he said.
The NHS and MND charities have provided equipment, including a wheelchair. Jefferies' girlfriend Kate has been his primary support. “Without my girlfriend, I wouldn't be in the same place that I am today,” he said. “She's been like, not only a rock through this but, you know, she does so much for me and still manages to make life worth living.”
The couple, together for 16 years, recently traveled through the Norwegian Fjords with Limitless Travel, a company catering to wheelchair users. Jefferies' friends launched a GoFundMe campaign, which has raised £9,198 towards its £10,000 target. “I've been absolutely blown away,” he said of the response.
