IT WAS the diagnosis that made him fear that he would have to give up his passion.

Sixty-two-year-old West End karate teacher David Morris, has taught more than 10,000 youngsters over four decades.

David struggles to go shopping and put on clothes due to Parkinson’s.

As reported by the Daily Echo, David launched a fundraising campaign to have a potentially life-changing operation in Serbia that will allow doctors to extract the ill cells and reintroduce them.

Despite his everyday battle, David has continued to fight on, and has now won a lifetime achievement award.

The instructor beat competition from more than 4,000 men and women in the active leisure sector category with charity Active Nation in the Fitness and Leisure Industry Awards.

David, who qualified as a personal trainer in July, said he ‘was never going to give in’.

He said: “For me, it was a wonderful accolade because I had purposefully taken the qualifications to defy the progressive, debilitating effect that my Parkinson’s disease had on my mental and physical state, and refused to give in to it.

“The course was very demanding and as my illness progressed, I did have to suspend training.

“I was never going to give in.

“I must thank Active Nation, who gave me the opportunity and encouraged, supported and helped me achieve something, at the age of 62, I thought was going to be a huge mountain to climb.”

David has been teaching at Active Nation’s Bitterne Park Leisure Centre on top of his other work at his school in Southampton, the Kyudokan Martial Arts Club.

He is considering undergoing stem cell treatment in Belgrade, Serbia, because he believes it is one of the fastest cures.

In the UK and other countries, research for a cure is still ongoing.

In Serbia, it is possible to undergo an operation which will enable doctors to extract the ill cells, treat them and then reintroduce them.

It means that David will need to stay in hospital for at least 12 days, and be fed with vitamins.

The treatment costs £20,000, with a fundraising campaign set up to raise the money by February 2018.

David added: “While everybody has been so supportive and generous in raising funds, we still need to continue the fundraising to reach the target.

“I’d like to thank those who have already donated their time and money in giving me this opportunity to receive the treatment I need to improve my quality of life.”

David’s total currently stands at around £2,000.

To donate, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/davemorris.

CONTACT ME

t: 023 8042 4538

e: aaron.shaw@dailyecho.co.uk