A MOTOR neurone disease sufferer with a fundraising target of £1million will host a charity swimathon today.

Alan Hedges, 67, announced last month he wanted to raise the huge sum towards finding a cure for the disease, which attacks the nerves in the brain and spinal cord and can affect how sufferers walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe.

And today, eight friends of Alan and his wife, Wendy, of Leyburn Road, Blackburn, will swim a mile each between 1pm and 3pm at Darwen Leisure Centre.

Wendy said: “We would like supporters to come down and cheer the participants on.

“All money raised will go to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.”

Alan, who has lost the ability to speak and communicates by writing or using his iPad, will be there to watch the swimmers in action.