A GoFundMe fundraiser has been launched to support the family of Paul Bradley, a 35-year-old father and former secondary school teacher from York, England, who died on March 5 after a two-year battle with motor neurone disease (MND).
The fundraiser was set up by Paul's longtime friend, Jack Pullen, to help Paul's wife, Emma Bradley, and her three children, who now face serious financial hardship following his death. According to the GoFundMe page, the campaign has so far raised more than £12,000 ($16,000) from over 400 donors.
Paul was diagnosed with MND in 2023 while working as a well-respected teacher at Joseph Rowntree School in York. MND is a progressive disease that affects the brain and nerves, causing weakness that worsens over time. There is currently no treatment or cure for the condition, according to the BBC.
Emma had to leave her job to become Paul's full-time carer following his diagnosis, which left the family with no income. Paul was also unable to obtain life insurance due to his extensive medical history.
He had undergone a kidney and liver transplant at the age of seven and later received two additional kidney transplants, with the most recent one taking place in 2021.
Adding to the family's difficulties, Paul's wheelchair-accessible vehicle, which was provided on loan, will now be returned, leaving Emma without transportation, Yahoo News Canada reported.
"On top of grief, Emma and the family are left with a mortgage, bills, no transport, and no income," Pullen told The Press. He described Paul as "more of a brother to me than a friend" and said his death "feels soul-crushing."
Read more: 'Children in Need' Fundraising Raises $59 Million To Help Children & Young People Across the UK
The campaign has also received high-profile attention. Rugby league legend Kevin Sinfield, who has raised more than £10 million for MND research and families, wrote to Emma offering his "full support."
In his message, Sinfield said he hoped the GoFundMe page would "help reduce some of the financial burden" and promised to send "something meaningful" for the family to auction.
Before his death, Paul and Emma had already shown their commitment to the MND cause. The couple brought their wedding forward to December 2023 after Paul's diagnosis and asked guests to donate to the MND Association instead of giving gifts.
That effort raised more than £8,000 for the charity. Friends later raised an additional £15,000 for MND-related causes.
Rev. Matthew Woodcock, who performed the couple's wedding ceremony and will lead Paul's funeral service on March 27 at St. Paul's Church in Holgate Road, called Paul "a beautiful, gentle soul" who "never complained" despite his medical struggles, as per Yahoo News UK.
He urged the York community to step forward and help the family, calling the situation "a real injustice."
