Maria Zaccaro
'My life won't be the same' - Much-loved karate teacher faces losing use of arm
A HAMPSHIRE karate teacher who has taught more than 10,000 youngsters over 40 years may have to give up on his passion because he is losing the use of his right arm.
David Morris, from West End, has been teaching karate for four decades at his school in Southampton, the Kyudokan Martial Arts club, and at several leisures centres such as the Eastleigh-based Fleming Park and Bitterne Park Leisure Centre.
But now the 62-year-old struggles to complete even basic tasks such as going shopping, doing up buttons or putting on clothes due to Parkinson's.
David was diagnosed with the disease in 2010 and said if he does not undergo treatment quickly he will have to give up on teaching.
He added: "I'm running out of time - I am 62 and I want to give myself the best possible chance and I want to teach.
"If I don't have the ability to do that my life won't be the same. I live for teaching. It is my passion, it is my love."
He said a smile from his students is the best reward he has received in his career. "I am the most fortunate teacher in the world because I have had thousands of smiles", he added.
Now David is considering undergoing stem cell treatment in Belgrade, Serbia, because he believes it is one of the fastest cures.
He explained that while other countries, including the UK, are still researching on cures for Parkinson's, in Serbia it is possible to undergo an operation which will enable doctors to extract the ill cells, treat them and reintroduce them in the patient's body.
This means David will need to stay in hospital for at least 12 days and be fed with vitamins.
The treatment costs £20,000 and David has now launched a fundraising campaign in a bid to raise the money by February 2018, when he is hoping to undergo the operation.
"The only treatment we have in this country is through drugs and medication but I think it's more beneficial if they treat my own cells. This treatment is likely to be successful and unfortunately my Parkinson's has progressed so much in the past six months that I have to do something as quickly as I can."
David has already raised £1,155.
To support him visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/davemorris.
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/15623866.__39_My_life_won__39_t_be_the_same__39____Much_loved_karate_teacher_faces_losing_use_of_arm/
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