A FORMER PARAMEDIC who has been told he may only have a few months to live has been the subject of a JustGiving campaign aiming to raise money for him and his family, so they can make more memories.

David Oates, who is 48 and affectionately known as Davie by friends and family, was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in June, before being diagnosed with rapid bulbar MND in August.

This means that Davie’s deterioration is likely to be a lot quicker than previously thought, giving him not years, but months left.

Davie’s ex-colleagues at the Yorkshire Ambulance Service on Bradford’s Northside Road, where he worked since 2004, have kindly created the online fundraising page and at the time of writing had raised £4,364, which is 87 per cent of the way towards their target of £5,000.

All Davie has ever wanted to do is to help other people. He is an incredibly humble person and has always put others before himself." - Davie Oates's wife Sam

Davie was born in Croydon and grew up in Peterhead, Scotland.

He went on to be member of the Armed Forces, where he worked with the Royal Signals in the telecommunication systems department, in Herford, Germany.

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He held this position for six and a half years, before joining the Scottish Ambulance Service in 2001, where he met his supportive wife Sam, who is also a paramedic, on a training course. Davie joined the Yorkshire Ambulance Service in 2004 and now lives with Sam and their 13-year-old son in Sam’s hometown of Halifax.

Davie proudly says he has “Delivered 51 babies” in his career as a paramedic, while his wife Sam adds, “All Davie has ever wanted to do is to help other people. He is an incredibly humble person and has always put others before himself.”

Sam also said, “Davie’s work colleagues set up the JustGiving page for our family so that we can raise some money to go and make more memories together.”

“We are overwhelmed and so privileged to have the support of such fantastic people.”

Davie had wanted to go and see singer Lewis Capaldi perform live in Sheffield, but his family were unable to get tickets as they were sold out.

Sam explains that, “Davie doesn’t really have a bucket list, but he does want to see Lewis Capaldi.”

“Time is running out for Davie and he normally doesn’t ask for anything, but all he wants to do is see Lewis live.”

“It would be great if Lewis could get in touch with us and we could arrange something.”

On Davie’s JustGiving page, which boasts 254 supporters, he is described as a “Fantastic bloke” and “A great paramedic”, while it also explains how he “Has mentored many ambulance staff over the years.”

“Now it’s time for us to give back to him”, the page says.

Donations can be made to Davie and his family on JustGiving here.

All donations would be highly appreciated.