The first symptom I noticed was slurred speech and I was diagnosed with vocal cord palsy and received speech therapy. The therapist said she thought I should see a neurologist and he diagnosed MND, he added. Mr Travers and his family collected 45 prizes, mainly from family and friends but also for local businesses including Llanwern Golf Club, Bettws Fish and Chip Shop and Skin Creations tattoo shop. Prizes included a signed Newport County AFC shirt, a drone, golf lessions, two signed Dragons shirts, hampers, £100 cash and bottles of wine. He said the aim was to raise £4,000 but they eventually raised £7,006. He has donated £6,006 to the Motor Neurone Disease Association and the other £1,000 to Newport-based St David s Hospice Care.