Being diagnosed with motor neurone disease, a rapidly progressive and fatal disease, was a bolt out of the blue for the former rugby player and coach.

His mobility is already affected by the disease, which leaves people trapped in their own body, unable to walk, talk or feed themselves, while their intellect and senses are usually unaffected.

Father-of-one Mr Lester (47), who already relies on a walking stick, has set his sights on completing the 84-mile long-distance route – bit by bit.

He explained: "So little is known about this disease that I wanted to do something positive, both to raise awareness of it and raise some funds to help research."

Sales manager Mr Lester, his wife Christine (47) and son Alex (14) moved into their home at Auchenhalrig, near Spey Bay, last summer. They had previously lived in West Yorkshire, where Mr Lester was heavily involved in Otley Rugby Club, coaching the youth team.

It was in May, 2005, while working on his own fitness levels, that Mr Lester first realised something was not quite right.

"I found I couldn't run because I couldn't push off with my left foot. I went to see the club physio and doctor and they diagnosed a sports injury, and predicted I would be back running again in three to four weeks," he recalled.

"It didn't respond to physio, so I went back to the doctor a few times. I had always been fit and healthy, and had hardly had any time off work through illness, so I didn't think for a moment it would turn out to be anything serious."

It was around this time that the family moved up to Moray, and Mr Lester went to see a GP in Fochabers, who has been very supportive throughout his diagnosis.

Devastated by his diagnosis of motor neurone disease, Tim Lester (47) is determined to meet future challenges head-on, starting by completing the 84-mile Speyside Way to aid research into the progressive disease. NS

"It was suspected that I might have a trapped nerve in my lower spine or even multiple sclerosis, and there was a very remote possibility that it was motor neurone disease," he said.

"Two days later I saw an orthopaedic specialist at Dr Gray's Hospital in Elgin, and was then referred for an MRI scan at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. Everything started happening very quickly. The scan on my lower spine showed nothing, so then I was told I needed to see a neurologist, and 10 days later I was in Dundee to see him and he said it looked like it might be motor neurone disease, although he still needed to run more tests."

The news sent shockwaves through the family. Every year, around 120 people are diagnosed with muscle-weakening motor neurone disease (MND) in Scotland, with the highest incidence occurring between the ages of 50 and 70. Life expectancy from the onset of symptoms is only two to five years.

Tim went on: "It was a devastating blow. I didn't know anything about MND or anyone with it, but I have now found that very little is known about it generally. Every single case can be different, and some deteriorate more rapidly than others. I have a very good community-based support team.

"I used to walk four miles in the morning before breakfast, and now I struggle to walk 400 yards. I have always walked and been very, very active, and I am not the sort of person to sit on my backside and do nothing, so I am trying to raise money for research and highlight MND."

He has set himself quite a challenge in tackling the Speyside Way from Aviemore to Buckie, and has completed his first two-mile stretch, joined by family and friends. Others have pledged to join him along the way, including friends from England, his therapists and staff from the Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Mr Lester has already raised £2,000 and pledges, along with messages of support, have been logged on his Internet blog, www.myspace.com/timsspeywaychallenge, where people can follow his progress.

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