A heartbroken family has spoken out after a son was given a devastating diagnosis, 15 years after his mother died from the same illness.

Ricky Dalton has been given the news he has motor neurone disease (MND).

There is no known cure and he might only have months left.

In November, the 22-year-old twisted his ankle while playing football with his friends.

"To lose your mum to this illness and then have to go through it yourself at the age of 22 is just heartbreaking" - George Dalton

He soon noticed he could not lift his ankle and started dragging his left leg.

His step-father and main carer George Dalton said: “The doctors thought Ricky had muscle damage at first and then they thought it could be a trapped nerve in his back which was causing the problem.

“Ricky had lots of tests done in December, but nothing came back. He was then referred to a motor neurone specialist at King’s College Hospital in London.”

After various tests Ricky, who has learning difficulties and attends the John Graham Centre in Canterbury, was officially diagnosed with MND in June.

MND is a rapidly progressing, incurable disease that affects the brain and the spinal cord.

It can leave people locked in a failing body, unable to move, talk, swallow and eventually breathe.

Mr Dalton, who lives with Ricky in Manor Road, Rushenden, said: “It took a long time to find out what was wrong.

“Ricky was already in a wheelchair by the time we found out it was MND.

“At first, he wasn’t able to lift his foot and struggled to walk properly on his own, so he started walking with crutches.

“Then, within a few months, he wasn’t able to lift or move his legs at all and has been confined to a wheelchair ever since.

“He has now also lost the use of his left arm.”

The former pupil of Meadowfields School, Sittingbourne, has been prescribed medication to try and slow the disease and has carers come to his home three times a day to help wash and dress him.

However, Mr Dalton, 47, said Ricky, who now has to sleep downstairs as he is unable to use the stairs, still needs equipment to be able to go about his daily routine.

Tragically, 15 years ago, Ricky’s mother Debbie passed away from MND at the age of 34, just two years after she married Mr Dalton.

Ricky’s auntie Joanne Dewey, 47, said: “Soon after Debbie died, we found out that her second cousin also died from the disease.

“At the time, the doctors told us there was no guarantee the disease is hereditary, but said it can be.

The Queenborough Primary School teacher added: “Because it is in our family, it’s like a ticking time bomb – you just don’t know who will get it next.

“I would like to say thank you to everyone who has supported and helped me over the past few months: my family and friends, carers and to all those who have donated to my cause" - Ricky Dalton

“It’s a dreadful disease - It’s like you are trapped in your own body – and this is why we are trying to give Ricky the best quality of life that he can have.

“To lose your mum to this illness and then have to go through it yourself at the age of 22 is just heartbreaking, and Ricky is very aware of what will happen to him.

“But the family, and even the community, have come together to help support Ricky through this.

“It’s been lovely and we really want to thank everyone.”

Friends and neighbours have rallied together to raise money for a family break before his condition deteriorates.

The holiday to Combe Haven in Hastings is part of Ricky’s bucket list, along with a helicopter ride.

He has already fulfilled his wish of going round Brands Hatch in a touring car and to Wembley Stadium to watch Liverpool versus Barcelona.

Mrs Dewey said: “When we asked Ricky what he wanted to do, he said he wanted to do as much as possible with his family and friends, so we have tried booking lots of activities that we can all get involved in.

“Throughout all of this, Ricky has kept his sense of humour and that is what keeps him going.

“Ever since he’s been ill, he has never wallowed; he just gets on with it all and takes each day as it comes.”

Ricky said: “I would like to say thank you to everyone who has supported and helped me over the past few months: my family and friends, carers and to all those who have donated to my cause.

“I really appreciate what you have all done for me.”

Family and friends will be hosting a charity pub crawl on September 10 to raise further funds.

The pub crawl will start from the Harps Inn on Minster Road at noon and will end up at The Rose in Queenborough at 6pm.

It will go from the Harps to Halfway House, onto Sheerness High Street, down to The Red Lion and The Albion in Blue Town and then on to Queenborough to the Queenborough Club, The Old House at Home, The Flying Dutchman and finally The Rose.

Once there, they will enjoy be a barbecue, disco and a raffle – of which tickets will be sold during the crawl.

The money raised will be shared equally between Ricky and the Motor Neurone Disease Association to enable more research to take place into the disease.

So far, more than £2,700 has been donated to the cause. To donate, call Joanne Dewey on 07894 627421 or send an email to: jodewey@live.co.uk