Deal or No Deal star fights back tears on GMB as his Motor Neurone Disease fundraiser total soars
DEAL or No Deal star Brad Wale teared up on today’s Good Morning Britain as he opened up about his motor neurone disease battle and the kindness he’s been shown from telly viewers.
The 29-year-old appeared on the ITV game show last week and left viewers and co-players in tears as he revealed he wanted to win a large sum so he could tick things off his bucket list.
However, the game didn’t go to plan and he walked away with just £5, leaving everyone involved devastated.
Within days of the show airing, kind viewers have dug deep and donated more than £48,000 to a GoFundMe page set up to help Brad live out his dreams.
The mere thought of their generosity had him in tears this morning as he spoke via videolink from his Shropshire home.
He said: “I just thought a few family members and friends would donate to be honest. From last Thursday the response I’ve had is something I can never put into words.
“I’m going to get upset now. From the bottom of my heart it means the world and I’ll never be able to say thank you enough. You’ll never understand how much it’s changed my life, so thank you.”
Last week, Brad floored Deal or No Deal host Stephen Mulhern with his heart-wrenching bucket list ambition.
He said: “Last year, things changed quite a lot for me really, I was diagnosed with motor neurone disease…”
Brad’s voice began to falter as he welled up discussing the condition.
He continued: “I never cry when I talk about it normally… So the prognosis isn’t really that great.
“So I’d put it towards my bucket list, go and see different places around the world, and give my family and partner some money before… yeah.”
Stephen went on to ask if the player had made a bucket list as a result of him only having a limited amount of time before his condition took over.
Confirming this was the case, Brad said: “Yeah, inevitably that’s how it goes.
“Don’t get me wrong, Stephen Hawking lived for 55-years – do you know what I mean? But the average is, like, a few years.”
His co-stars were seen wiping away tears from their face as Brad’s mum sat in the audience looking on.
As the game progressed, Brad appeared to be in a great position with many of the ‘big reds’ – £25,000, £50,000 and £75,000 – still in play.
With his odds looking good, Brad opted not to make a deal with the Banker.
However, when it emerged that £5 could also be his amount of winnings, tension in the studio reached fever pitch.
The game ended in disaster when poor Brad walked away with the measly fiver.
Following the programme, his co-player pal Rochelle surprised him by revealing she’d set up the fundraising page to help him out.