A DEVASTATED husband is set to take on the challenge of a lifetime after losing his wife to Motor Neurone Disease.

Paul Sharpe will be taking on a five-day trek along an ancient wonder, the Great Wall of China, in memory of his wife, Kilwinning mum-of-two Wendy.

The 53-year-old retired police officer’s whole world was turned upside down when Wendy was diagnosed with MND.

Paul said: “Wendy's initial symptoms were a bit random for around 18 months. She had a number of regular fainting episodes. She was feeling weak in her hands and just had a general loss of power; we didn’t really think about it until she had a couple of unexplained falls.”

Wendy had been to see her GP several times but they were unable to pin point the cause of the symptoms but she was referred to a neurologist for further investigation.

Paul said: “At the beginning of July 2017 an MRI had revealed that she was suffering from a brain tumour and an aneurysm. Our world began to collapse.

“Over the next few weeks her symptoms got progressively worse. She had trouble standing and couldn’t really walk far without assistance. Wendy asked the neurologist if she could have MND. The doctor said nothing. As we left the neurology department Wendy turned to me in tears, “I’ve got MND, haven’t I?”. We just stood there in the street hugging and crying, then laughing when we realised that everyone passing were staring at us.”

In September 2017 Wendy and Paul received the call to confirm the diagnosis of MND.

“To be honest it wasn’t that great a shock. We were both expecting it, but we were devastated none the less. We both knew what it meant.”

Wendy died shortly after celebrating her 50th birthday and Paul took the leap to sign up for the Great Wall of China, for MND Scotland, with Wendy’s encouragement.

Having raised over £6,500 for the trek, Paul will be jetting off to Beijing on September 14 with 38 other MND Scotland fundraisers in memory of his beloved wife.

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/paul-sharpe66