A WIDOWER has vowed to continue his wife's legacy of fundraising to help those with Motor Neurone Disease.

Colin Tilley's wife lost her battle with the condition in May but not before spending her final months raising more than £52,000 for the cause.

Alie, from Fringford near Bicester, was diagnosed late last year and in six months raised enough to fund a year's worth of stem cell research at the John Radcliffe under the organisation All About Alie (AAA).

Mr Tilley said: "My wife unfortunately didn't last long after six months from diagnosis.

"All her muscles started to shut down, she first knew about it when she could not move her little toe on her left foot - then as a trained typist she then noticed her left hand wasn't working properly.

"When you get MND nothing stops it, one drug they have slows it down but it is a very aggressive disease and just the most cruel thing."

Mrs Tilley, who passed away age 51, was a live events producer, planning things such as the G20 summit and travelling all around the world.

Mr Tilley said: "She thought nothing is being done for MND and wanted to start the AAA organisation to help raise money and awareness through those contacts.

"It costs about £1,000 a week to fund the stem cell research and the AAA has raised about £52,000 in those six months - enough to fund about a year's research.

"Alie just wanted to get it out there,. It needs some awareness and I want to keep this going to help fund research to give people some hope."

Part of the AAA's work has most recently included Mr Tilley continuing the tradition of donating a specially adapted Chrysler Grand Voyager back to somebody else battling Motor Neurone Disease.

Mr Tilley added: "We used to go to the JR for many check ups and the nurse there asked if we needed a mobility car from a man whose wife had recently died from MND as he wanted to pass it on to help someone else.

"Unfortunately Alie passed away before we could make use of it but I wanted to keep that tradition going."

Father-of-two Gary Grove was officially given the keys to the car on Wednesday, July 20, at Halfords in Bicester.

Mr Grove, from Thame, has lost his ability to talk or walk because of the condition but, using a speech synthesizer, said the car would be life-changing for him.

He said: "I have MND but I refuse to let it get me down. Three years ago I was playing five a side football and going to the gym, now I can't walk, talk, eat or drink.

"It started with a bit of a stammer but just progressed from there. I remember the last time I spoke was on the May 25, 2015.

"This vehicle will change my life and means I will be able to get out more often.

"I want to thank Colin and Halfords for making such a difference to my life.

" When I heard about AAA I was so impressed, they just want to make such a difference"

The official hand over took place Halfords Autocentre in Telford Road, Bicester, where the car was given a free service and MOT.

For more information about the organisation All About Alie see aaa.uk.com