Deal Or No Deal contestant Brad Wale left fans in tears when he walked away from the show with only £5 – but now his fundraiser has skyrocketed past £100,000.
Brad, from Bridgnorth, Shropshire, tugged at the audience’s heartstrings when he revealed his Motor Neurone Disease (MND) diagnosis to ITV show host Stephen Mulhern.
The terminal disease affects the motor nerves which eventually degenerate and die, making the muscles weaker and weaker, eventually leading to paralysis.
The Shropshire native was on the competition show in a bid to raise some funds for his family and so he could achieve his bucket list goals, as he likely only has a few years left to live.
Brad – who uses crutches – kept a positive outlook on his condition, adding physicist Stephen Hawking managed to live for 55 years after his MND diagnosis.
Deal Or No Deal contestant, Brad Wale’s fundraiser has stormed passed £100,000 after he left fans in tears when he walked away with only £5 (pictured)
Brad, from Bridgnorth, Shropshire left viewers emotional after he revealed he was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) – a terminal disease which eventually leads to paralysis
Brad wanted was on the show in a bid to raise some money for his family and his bucket list, as it is likely he only has a few years left of life
Several people in the studio were also in tears after listening to the brave contestant’s story.
But in an unfortunate turn of events, he devastatingly only walked away with £5 in the ‘gut-wrenching’ episode.
However, after the episode hit TV screens, his Deal Or No Deal co-star Rochelle Hughes set up a GoFundMe for him.
In the fundraiser’s description, she wrote: ‘I’m sure you all saw Brad’s devastating game on Deal or No Deal.
‘His DOND family really want him to fulfil his dreams and we have set this up on the hope that anyone could maybe spare a couple of pounds and get Brad to tick some bits off his Bucket List. We love you Brad.’
Kind-hearted viewers flocked in their thousands to support the terminally-ill man, as Brad shared with Good Morning Britain on Wednesday, that the donation pot had already hit a whopping £77,000.
Speaking to hosts Susanna Reid and Ed Balls, Brad said: ‘It’s been a really long progress getting the diagnosis. It wasn’t until very recently. It sounds silly, but when I was told that for the first time it was almost a relief.’
Updating them on how he is current state, Brad said: ‘I get cramping in my hands, cramping in my feet. I’m not able to walk much at all anymore.
Several people in the studio, including this contestant, also broke down to tears after listening to Brad’s emotional story
His Deal Or Deal co=star Rochelle Hughes set up a GoFundMe for Brad and it quickly raked in £100,000 as fans shower him with support
‘I’ve been having speech therapy, and that’s got a bit better. But I’m really tired, that still goes.’
Brad continued: ‘I just have to have lots of adaptations and stuff these days to kind of do life. But I’m a big believer in positivity and I think as long as I stay positive, I can fight it all the way.’
After so many generous people donated to Brad, Rochelle issued an update to the fundraiser on Thursday, thanking kind followers from ‘the bottom of [her] heart’.
‘You are all incredible. You have changed Brad’s life and I will never be able to say thank you enough. We are wishing you all a very merry Christmas and HAPPY HEALTHY new year.
‘You have done an amazing thing for Brad and you should all be so proud of yourselves for your kindness.’
The GoFundMe flew past its £20,000 goal in only six days with more than 2,500 viewers donating to Brad’s cause.
The funds quickly stacked up to a grand total of £30,625 by 2.30pm on December 2.
Alongside their generous donations viewers left thoughtful messages, expressing how much Brad’s story ‘moved’ and ‘touched their hearts’.
Speaking to hosts Susanna Reid and Ed Balls, Brad said on Wednesday:’I get cramping in my hands, cramping in my feet. I’m not able to walk much at all anymore’
Brad’s GoFundMe quickly climbed past its £20,000 goal in only six days with more than 2,500 viewers donating to Brad’s cause, stacking up to £30,625 by 2.30pm on December 2
One wrote: ‘Brad really touched my heart and us all pulling together can give him funds to do his bucket list…,’ while a second added: ‘He seems like such a lovely guy and he deserves to do all the things he wants to do!’
‘I watched your show which had me in tears. Hope this fund will help you achieve some of your dreams. Best wishes to you and your family x.’
A fourth added: ‘Brad, you touched the hearts of a nation this week with your story and your searing honesty…what an inspiration you are…please go on now and get some of those dreams on your list ticked off! Good luck with everything lovely man and hope we hear more from you in the future.’
Another quipped: ‘I just caught up on the show and you are a true inspiration to us all – go smash the bucket list! We are all rooting for you!’
Brad took to Facebook to share several of the doting posts, extending his gratitude to those who donated, adding he was completely ‘overwhelmed’ by the showers of support.
On Friday, he penned: ‘Hey everyone, just a post to say I lost my phone last night. If you need me, drop me a message on here. I’m not able to access my emails either as I need my phone to verify myself.
‘Whilst I’m on here can I just say thank you so much for all your lovely messages, posts and donations, completely overwhelmed by the response I’ve had.
‘Spent the past couple of days trying to take it all in. It’s blown my mind. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I promise I will get around to replying to all of them, it’s just taking me a while.
Fans poured in with donations and messages of support for Brad, devestated by his Deal Or No Deal loss. He began the game with a £75,000 offer from the banker, but ended it with a £5 win
Brad has taken to Facebook to share an myriad of posts thanking viewers for their kind donations and confessing he has been completely ‘overwhelmed’ by the immense amount of support
‘Thanks so much again. Genuinely means so much. Thank you, thank you, thank you.’
In another post last Thursday, he wrote: ‘Just want to say a massive thank you, for all the messages of support I have had!
‘I’m truly overwhelmed by it all and never in my life did I expect it. I had the best two weeks filming this amazing show and have truly made friends for life.
‘I will eventually get around to replying to everyone, don’t think I’m ignoring anyone. It wasn’t meant to be but I’ve come away with so much more than money.
‘Stephen Mulhern and all of the production team on the show were honestly the nicest person you’d wish to meet and I feel so blessed to have been given this opportunity.’
The game show participant played a formidable game, with many people crossing their fingers that he would bag the big win.
He started on a promising note, cutting away more blue boxes than red – and the desired £100,000 was yet to be unveiled.
The banker then called with an offer of £12,500, with the £75,000 box still in the play.
Following his mum’s advice, Brad continued to ride his lucky streak and play the game.
But, shortly after things took a typically unexpected turn as Brad rejected the cash offer – revealing he was aiming at winning £75,000.
Yet the high-risk game quickly became more brutal than first anticipated, as Brad was left with four boxes including the amounts £75,000, £5,000, £10 and £5.
When the fourth and last box revealed the highest amount that Brad was dreaming of, it left the contestant as well as viewers at home devastated.
It got worse when Brad eliminated £5,000 box, as he told host Stephen: ‘This is my life. I’ve always had such bad luck. Nothing changes, I should have expected this.’
He received a final blow, when the banker called with an offer of only £4.
Deal Or No Deal viewers were so moved by Brad’s story, they took to X/Twitter to share their support as they were upset by the game’s outcome
Brad ended the game opening his box which had only £5 all along.
Deal Or No Deal viewers were devestated by the outcome of Brad’s game, with several taking to X/Twitter to share their support.
One viewer said: ‘That was the most gut wrenching thing i’ve watched in so long… brad i love u #DealOrNoDeal.’
A second user agreed sharing their feelings: ‘#Brad #DealorNoDeal Never before have I wanted someone to win big on a TV game show, as I did today. So sad it never happened What a beautiful, funny, courageous man he is. I really hope he can achieve his bucket list X.’
A third wrote ‘Everyone after watching Brad’s game’ and shared a gif reaction saying ‘Alright I’m gonna go cry’.
‘Omg Brad, diagnosed with MND, I pray he wins big on #DealOrNoDeal @StephenMulhern @ITVX @itv.’
Another fan begged: ‘#DealOrNoDeal can we please start a gofundme or something for brad ??? surely deserves it, what an incredible man.’
‘That has got to be one of the saddest Deal or No Deal’s I have seen. Poor Brad. #DealOrNoDeal.’ .
‘Felt so sorry for Brad such a wonderful man made me cry when he said all he’s had is bad luck though his life #DealOrNoDeal,’ penned another person.
Since receiving his MND diagnosis, Brad has fundraised in an attempt to find a cure for the disease.
He took part in a skydive in September last year, which raised £3,685.
He said on his fundraising page ahead of the dive: ‘My one wish is for them to find a cure or a decent treatment to ease symptoms and prolong life.
‘This is the reason I am doing a sponsored skydive, to raise much needed funds to get that one step closer.’
He split the money raised between two charities – the Motor Neurone Disease Association and The Cavalier Centre.
After completeling the dive, Brad penned: ‘What an amazing experience it was too! One more thing ticked off my bucket list.’
As well as his skydive, he has also hosted cake sales and tombolas in a bid to raise funds for charity and spread awareness about the disease.
According to Shropshire Live , Brad lives with his family because of his condition but said he is still trying to stay as ‘independent as possible’ and ‘fight’ the disease.
Last year, Brad – who previously lived in Spain for four years before moving back to England when his symptoms first emerged – told how he was no longer able to walk up stairs due to the condition worsening.
To donate to Brad’s GoFundMe, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/37j2m2k6ko
Since receiving his MND diagnosis, Brad has fundraised to try and find a cure for the disease, taking part in a skydive in September last year, which raised £3,685
