By Alex Schweitzer-Thompson

A BLAIRGOWRIE man who has been on a life-support machine for three years, and is paralysed from the neck down, could have a better quality of life thanks to the generosity of local fund-raisers.

Gordon Hardie (77), an ex-farmer, spent most of his life working outdoors, but three years ago was diagnosed with what neurologists describe as the worst Tayside case of the debilitating Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS).

Charitable locals have come out in force to support him and a donation of £400 from the City of Dundee Lions Club will help with £3000 worth of specialist equipment.

GBS is normally recognisable as an ascending weakness through the body that begins in the legs.

With prompt treatment, most patients can regain full function, but the disease can in a minority of cases prove fatal.

Gordon’s wife, Joyce (63), a district nurse, hopes his condition can improve with help from new machinery to test nerve and muscle activity and allow therapists to concentrate on the most responsive parts.

Joyce said, “We are hopeful this could make a difference.

“Local people have been completely overwhelming with their generosity. I never thought we would get such a response.

“You don’t realise how much people care until you are on the receiving end.

“People donated so much money before that we were able to get a (specially-adapted) chair for Gordon.

“The NHS covers three-quarters of the £2000 monthly fee for the care home and, if it wasn’t for the help of the charities, it would be quite difficult to give him the treatment he needs.

“He can still talk, and speaks a lot, especially to outsiders.

“He is unable to hold books or news- papers to read, but he likes watching Manchester United and horse-racing on television.”

The Lions Club presented the cheque at the place Gordon now calls home, the South Grange Care Home in Monifieth.

Club secretary Tom McDade said, “We normally arrange fund-raisers through our race nights but we decided to take £400 from our charity fund to donate to Gordon immediately so that they could get his machine as soon as possible.

“They’ve been operating the machine for a couple of weeks now and it’s already having some good results.”