England team show their support

A HEADTEACHER and rugby player diagnosed with a degenerative disease has met his sporting idols in a bid to raise awareness of the fatal condition.

Simon Adams, who has motor neurone disease (MND), chatted with members of the England Rugby Union team following their game against the New Zealand All Blacks on Saturday.

He used the opportunity to talk to the sporting giants about his condition and said the meeting had been unforgettable.

"It was wonderful," he said. "It really was a good day."

And Simon, from Mannamead, said that despite the team losing to the New Zealand side, they were still happy to spend time with him. "They were really friendly and even Martin Johnson (England manager) smiled and had a joke. Jonny Wilkinson was amazing and it was incredible how nice he was."

Simon, aged 46, has been given between six months and three years to live after being diagnosed at the end of October with MND, which attacks nerve cells in the brain and spine. Since being given the shocking news Simon, headteacher for Years 3 to 9 of the Plymouth Tuition Service, has written a 'bucket list' of things to do before he dies, including raising £1million for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

A T-shirt signed by players will be raffled during a gala dinner in May next year.

He will also be keeping people updated with his list at www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/blogs