By Tricia Thomas

Snuneymuxw’s John Wyse, a shellfish farmer and father of three, has been suffering with deteriorating health from a rare form of multiple sclerosis.

The 40-year old was diagnosed in 2010 with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS), a relentless form of the disease. Now Wyse is in a race against time to find help from a new experimental therapy. There are only nine clinics worldwide offering the treatment.

People who suffer from multiple sclerosis, or Primary-Progressive Multiple Sclerosis in John’s case, may have sought out a diagnosis when they had trouble walking, or felt weakness in their legs, as these are the most common symptoms of MS. When it comes to PPMS, this will only continue to get worse, as unfortunately, you won’t have relapses or remissions. Some people who suffer from multiple sclerosis may decide to look into CBD oil, and other remedies, to see how they can help to relieve symptoms such as muscle stiffness or pain, and could significantly improve their quality of life.

As John is suffering from PPMS, and the choice of treatment is further limited, in practice and location, it is even more important that he is able to have access to this new experimental therapy that could help to prevent his symptoms from worsening.

A clinic in Israel has scheduled Wyse for treatment in April 2016, but it will cost $158,200. Since December, several fundraisers have raised only a small part of that.

But comedian Don Burnstick has stepped up to star in a fundraiser at Nanaimo’s Port Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on July 3. The $25 tickets are available at the theatre’s box office.

Wyse and his family also have an online donation page on Gofundme for those who wish to contribute.