FRIENDS and family of a former Royal Marine who suffered a debilitating brain haemorrhage at the age of just 49 are hoping to raise £2,000 to help him regain some of his independence.

Ray Costley, now 51, was left paralysed after a bleed on the brain in 2011 and spent many months in hospital.

The once active father-of-two relies on carers and family and needs a wheelchair to get out and about.

But with no feeling in the right side of his body, Ray cannot steer a mobility scooter and needs a specialist power chair to enable him to leave his Watchet home unaided.

However, because wife Sharon works full-time, the couple get very little state help and are constantly saving money to pay for home improvements and to buy mobility aids for Ray.

Now local people are hoping a fundraising mixed pairs darts tournament in Williton will raise the £2,000 needed to pay for the power chair - which has already been handed over to Ray by Independent Living in Minehead.

The couple sold a mobility scooter Ray was unable to use to raise money for a deposit for the power chair, having already spent all their savings installing a disabled-friendly downstairs bathroom in their Culvercliffe Road home.

They are now saving to make their garden more accessible and are also hoping to pay for trips on the West Somerset Railway to enable Ray to get to Minehead as the power chair is too big to fit in the family car.

"Ray is quite a large man and his right hand side is a dead weight so I find it difficult getting him around in a manual wheelchair.

"If we go out we have to go somewhere where it's flat as I struggle to push him if there's even a slight incline, but the power chair gives him more freedom," Sharon said.

Although Ray had suffered from ulcerative colitis for many years and had a heart attack in his late 40s, the brain haemorrhage was still totally unexpected.

"It might have been caused by the medication he was taking, but we don't know.

"It had the same effect on him as a stroke and to start with he couldn't swallow or speak, so he's very lucky to be here," Sharon said.

She said the haemorrhage had not only changed Ray's life, but also the lives of both her and her children, who are now aged 21 and 18.

However, she has continued to work at Kilve Court to give herself a break from caring for Ray and also to encourage Ray to do some things for himself while she is out at work.

"I've got a good job which is close to home and I don't want to give it up, especially if he gets better, as then we'd be stuck.

"It gives me a bit of a break and it's good for him as well," Sharon said.

She said she had been overwhelmed by the offer of help to pay for the power chair and thanked everyone who had supported the family in the last few years.

"Ray used to love his darts and played in the local darts league for many years.

"He also did football and swimming with our two boys so I'm really grateful to everybody for giving up their time to organise the tournament for us."

The Ray Costley Fundraiser is being held in Williton Social Club on Saturday, June 22, and is being organised by local mechanic Nick Lane, the manager of the village's Kwikstop garage.

He said supporters had already pledged £600 and local businesses had come up trumps with raffle prizes, but more were still needed.

"Ray and Sharon get very little help and are trying to do everything themselves.

"Ray's been pretty much housebound since he had the stroke two years' ago so it's great Independent Living gave him the chair before we could even pay for it and at a discount, too," Nick said.

Trophies for the tournament, which is open to players of all abilities, have been donated by Tony Pryce Sports of Minehead and Nick is taking donations of both cash and raffle prizes through the Kwikstop garage in Long Street.

"Ray was a really active man before he had his stroke and the support we've had so far for him has been brilliant," Nick said.

After leaving the Royal Marines, Ray worked as a transport officer for Somerset County Council for ten years and was a familiar face at Watchet Town Football Club, where he was the manager of the under 13s side.

Sharon said Ray was looking forward to meeting many friends he had not seen for some time at the darts fundraiser - and had told him he had to try and stay awake until the very end!

"He gets tired very quickly but he's really looking forward to it.

"The power chair has been wonderful - although we've had a few dicey moments as the pavements around here are quite narrow in places!" Sharon said.

Teams competing in the mixed pairs fundraiser need to sign-on at 7.30pm, while games start at 8pm.

More information is available from Nick at Kwikstop on 01984 633610.

Ray and Sharon are pictured with the specialist power chair, which Ray is able to control one-handed with a joystick.