SEVEN YEARS AGO John Taylor was so super-fit that he thought nothing of cycling from Land's End to John O'Groats.

His cycle marathon covered about 1,000 miles and little did he think as he sped along the nation's back roads that three years later he would be hit with such a devastating illness.

In 1997 the 57 year-old civil engineer, who lives near Romsey, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. It is a progressive, terminal illness for which there is no cure. It destroys the body but leaves the mind alert.

John who relies on an electronic speech machine to communicate, says he is trapped in a body that does not work.

But he has shown remarkable courage in facing up to a progressive fatal illness that can affect any adult at any age.

In this Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Awareness Week, John has been telling the Daily Echo his own moving story of how he has had to come to terms with MND.

He said: "I was very active, building our house, regularly walking and cycling, including a charity cycle seven years ago from Land's End to John O'Groats.

Now I can just about hold a knife and fork. It is difficult to express how I feel, trapped in a body that does not work very well."

His devoted 56 year-old wife Joan has the daily heartbreak of watching someone she loves being gradually destroyed by a disease for which there is no cure, although a great deal of research is going on. Joan said: "Lack of communication is really tough. But we do make every day count."

The couple, who have two grown up sons, have found that their Christian faith , along with support from family and friends, has given them an inner peace.

John said: "Over a period of two years it became harder and harder to talk. Friends thought I had a stroke and after a bit of nagging from my wife Joan I finally went to a GP who referred me to a neurologist.

"He had me in hospital for tests and within three months they told me the diagnosis. That was in 1997.

"I got a book out of the library and when I realised the awful reality of what was happening to my body I resolved that although life with MND is short, it is still worth living.

"Shortly after my diagnosis we enjoyed a holiday in New Zealand and more recently one in Canada. It is a good job I did because I could not now. Basically as your muscles stop working you slowly lose the ability to do things you take for granted."

Although John has his electronic speech machine, he says: "It can take me three or four attempts to get a point across which leaves me feeling isolated with a sense of frustration because I cannot make myself understood."

Although his days of marathon cycle rides might be over he is now back on three wheels after becoming the proud owner of a three-wheeled recumbent trike. He said: "I am determined to make every day count."

The MND national helpline is 08457 626262. For information on the Southampton and district branch contact 01489 602844 or 01794 523982.