A former nightclub worker from Norwich, who was diagnosed with a progressive terminal illness two years ago, is urging people to get behind a tasty social media campaign to help raise vital funds for a specialist care centre.

Daniel Maccoll, 31, was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in 2012 after developing muscle weakness and extreme fatigue.

He now receives specialist care at the Priscilla Bacon Centre and said he was 'so grateful' for his treatment that he wanted to launch a new charity campaign to say thank you - while raising awareness about his condition.

Before becoming ill, Mr Maccoll worked in nightclubs and restaurants across the world. He said: 'I knew something was wrong when I started noticing lots of different symptoms. It seemed like everything was just becoming much more difficult for me.

'Despite this, it was still a shock to be given the diagnosis.'

He is now encouraging people to take part in the marshmallow challenge with the aim to get people to put ten marshmallows into their mouth and say a tongue twister of their choice before nominating friends to do the same and making a donation.

It is hoped the fundraiser will share some of the success of the recent ice bucket challenge.

'My speech was one of the first things to go and now I find communication very difficult,' he added. 'When I talk, people assume I'm drunk, which can be very frustrating.

'I came up with the marshmallow challenge to not only raise money but also awareness of the problems which people with MND have with communication. Hopefully everyone who tries to talk with a mouthful of marshmallows will realise just how difficult it can be for people like me.'

Mr Maccoll currently has physiotherapy twice a week at the Norwich-based Priscilla Bacon Centre - run by Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust to help provide specialist end-of-life services - and has nothing but praise for the care he has received.

Several of the nursing staff at the Priscilla Bacon Centre, which is part of the Colman Hospital in Unthank Road, have already signed up for the squishy challenge.

• Are you raising money for charity? Email reporter donna-louise.bishop@archant.co.uk.