A cue-wielding local star is fronting a national campaign to raise money for research into the debilitating condition he’s lived with for decades.
Nigel Brasier, from Spalding, is taking part in Doddie Aid.
It’s running until February 5 and participants clock up miles in whatever way they want to raise money for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and motor neuron disease research.
It was set up by former rugby player Doddie Weir who had the condition.
Nigel has long been a campaigner for MND charities including at the Snooker World Disability Championships.
He’s a popular member of the Spalding and District Snooker League in which he plays for Donington.
The 56-year-old was 35 when he first sensed something was wrong, noticing his reactions ‘weren’t there’ while playing football.
When he began falling without warning at work, doctors told him it was probably the wear and tear from years playing football, but repeated appointments saw no answers.
It took seven years of uncertainty and often invasive testing before Nigel finally received a diagnosis.
He said: “What I had at the time was rare, so it took longer to diagnose. It was immensely frustrating.
“I went to the doctor year-on -year, but they couldn’t give me more information. Even though there’s little to nothing they can do, you need to know if you’ll be okay or not.
“They gave me a leaflet and told me it was a form of motor neuron disease. The only person I knew who had it was Stephen Hawking. This was before Doddie Weir or Rob Burrow. That’s when I broke down. I said ‘don’t tell me any more.’”
The dad-of-three sat in his car for an hour trying to absorb what he had been told. The diagnosis was Primary
Lateral Sclerosis (PLS) – a slower-progressing form of MND that affects mobility but offers no clear indication of how the disease will advance.
He added: “I was absolutely numb. I didn’t know if I was going to live or die. I had to work out how to tell my wife and my kids. My whole life changed that day.”
Nigel tried to carry on working but his mobility deteriorated. He moved from a walking stick to metal ankle-foot splints and later left his job following redundancy. Determined not to give up, he took on volunteering roles in local hospitals despite fatigue, muscle twitching and the balance problems that are now part of everyday life.
His turning point came in a snooker club in Boston. Nigel met disability player Joe Hardstaff, who encouraged him to enter World Disability Billiards and Snooker events.
He said: “I walked into my first tournament in Northampton and spent more time looking around than playing. People with one arm, wheelchair users, players who couldn’t see or hear well. It was inspiring. I lost in the quarter finals, but it didn’t matter, I was hooked.”
Six years later Nigel, whose nickname is ‘The Brave’, is one of the circuit’s most recognisable competitors.
He has travelled around the world, including representing the UK at the World Ability Games in Thailand, competed in the World Championships, and reached finals at the Hull Open, German Open and Irish Open. Last month, he finished runner-up in the Challenge Cup final at the 2025 World Championships, again in Thailand. He plays up to 15 hours a week and competes in the Spalding Snooker League.
He said: “Snooker has become therapy as much as competition. It helps me focus, and makes me feel alive.
“Disability snooker is one massive family – everyone looks out for each other. People call me inspirational, but I didn’t choose this path, it found me. I couldn’t do it without the support of my wife Joanne, and children Rhys, Rian and Annabelle.
“I want to show people that even with a horrible diagnosis like MND, you can still live well in the time you have.”
A career highlight came earlier this year when he and other disabled players were invited to mark the 40th anniversary of 1985 World Champion Dennis Taylor’s famous black-ball final win over Steve Davis in Sheffield.
Nigel played at the Winter Gardens behind presenter Hazel Irvine during the BBC’s live coverage, and later toured the famous Crucible Theatre, where he managed to persuade organisers to make the MND Association the chosen charity for the event.
He has raised more than £25,000 for MND causes through his own annual tournaments, including £1,795 for Lincolnshire MND Group with the help of former world number eight Joe Perry through a Six Red charity day at the snooker ace’s club in Cambridgeshire.
Despite dedicating so much time to fundraising, Nigel is in need of his own support to enable him to continue competing. With the cost tournaments running into the thousands, each year, he’s in search of sponsors to help him keep playing the sport he loves.
“Snooker means the world to me. When I’m on the table, I forget I have MND – it’s an amazing feeling. If I can’t find a sponsor though, my next trip to Thailand could be my last.”
He is currently attempting a very different challenge by taking part in Doddie Aid, which encourages people to log miles in any form of movement, from running and cycling to dog walks.
Nigel will be clocking up his miles around the snooker table wearing the Doddie Weir tartan waistcoat he competes in.
He said: “Doddie lived with the same disease I have. His attitude – not accepting his MND diagnosis, standing up, and making something happen – that inspires me.”
Visit doddieaid.com.
