An inspirational man who saved countless lives while working as a top cardiac consultant has told now how he hopes to live long enough to celebrate his 50th birthday and see his daughter turn 16.

Brian Murphy, 49, is unable to walk and needs a ventilator to help him breathe after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease but says he is determined that the devasting terminal illness won’t stop him from creating precious memories with his family.

The former medic also spoke of his pride as his brother Adrian takes on a monster triathlon that will see him run, swim and cycle from Loch Ness to London to raise money to try and find a cure for the cruel condition.

Brian, from Glasgow, said: "The diagnosis that I had MND was heart-breaking. I was utterly devastated as I knew what it meant. There’s no hope of treatment, of stalling it or it getting any better. So you have to cope with thinking about that, on top of the physical deterioration.

"It focuses you on everything that is really important in your life and I've always been determined to make the most of the time I have and have set goals along the way that I want to reach.”

The Glasgow Times previously reported on Brian tying the knot with wife Gillian in the city last year after Covid restrictions eased.

READ MORE: Groom battling MND marries bride in Glasgow ceremony after coronavirus restrictions lift

Glasgow Times:

He added: "I managed to marry my partner Gillian and then I set my next milestone, which is being there to celebrate my daughter Catherine turning 16 and then the big 50 for myself in September. It's all about giving yourself something to look to and living every day for all it's worth.

"What Adrian is doing is inspirational. It is an epic challenge for anyone to undertake, but he is determined to make it."

Adrian, who is chair of the MND Scotland charity, hope to raise £40,000 to help find a cure for the cruel disease which stops signals from the brain reaching the muscles.

He said: “Brian has a lot to celebrate this year and he has said his goal is to enjoy both of the big celebrations ahead of him and make more special memories for both him and his family.

“Brian is such an inspiration to us all and he has coped so well with MND. It’s such a cruel illness and already he’s lost the ability to walk. For someone who was so brilliant, who saved so many other people's lives, it is so cruel for this to have happened to him.

"I realised that MND Scotland is 40 this year, as am I, so it seemed apt to set a fundraising target of £40,000 - and I'm amazed that I'm already close to reaching it."

Glasgow Times:

Adrian, from the West End of Glasgow, set off at the beginning of the week on the mammoth fitness test which will take him seven days to complete.

He started with a 5km swim in Loch Ness and is now on a 1000km cycle before finishing with an ultra-marathon along the Thames in London.

Adrian took time out from his journey to chat with the Glasgow Times about why the monster challenge means so much.

He added: "After the initial shock of Brian's diagnosis, the reality set in that he likely had around 18 months to live. Nobody should have to hear this, and not only is it a terminal condition, it slowly robs you of everything along the way.

"I remember how shocked I was when Brian told me that the only way he could get up the stairs was on all fours. It was heart-breaking. I want to be there for him as a brother, a friend, and as a carer.

"I think perhaps I wanted to do something that would inflict some suffering on me, but nothing I can do will ever compare to what Brian and other people with MND are going through each and every day.

"So many people rely on MND Scotland for free support to make living with this condition a little easier. If doing this can help achieve that, then it will all be worthwhile."

To donate, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/adrian-murphymndmonsterchallenge.